Americans Missing in Nepal Flood Disaster: How Many US Citizens Are Missing and What Happened?

At least 65 Americans are reported missing in Nepal following catastrophic flash floods and mudflows that swept through the country’s northern Rasuwa district near the border with Tibet on Aug. 26. The figure was provided by Nepal’s tourism authorities on Aug. 27, but U.S. officials have cautioned that the number of Americans affected or still missing has changed as authorities verify information.

The disaster has killed hundreds of people across Nepal and neighboring Tibet and left more than 1,300 people unaccounted for on both sides of the border. In Nepal, tourists, local residents and security personnel are among those missing.

How Many Americans Are Missing in Nepal?

Nepal’s Tourism Board said 65 U.S. citizens were among tourists reported missing following the disaster. The figure has increased from earlier estimates as officials receive additional information from travel companies and local authorities. Earlier reports had placed the number of missing Americans at 47, while other preliminary assessments gave smaller figures. The changing totals reflect the difficulty of establishing who was in the affected region when the floods struck. The U.S. State Department has said it does not yet have an independently verified final number of missing Americans. The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is working with Nepalese authorities and tourism companies to account for U.S. citizens who may have been affected. That means the 65 figure should be described as the latest reported count, rather than a final confirmed number of American deaths or missing persons.

What Happened in Nepal?

The disaster began Wednesday morning when a massive surge of water and debris swept through communities along the Bhote Koshi River in northern Nepal. The worst-affected areas include Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, with flooding also affecting surrounding areas. Homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure were damaged or destroyed as water and mud moved rapidly downstream. The U.S. Geological Survey determined that seismic activity initially reported as an earthquake was actually generated by a glacial collapse. The collapse sent a large volume of debris and water downstream, triggering the destructive flooding. The exact chain of events behind the glacial collapse remains under investigation.

Why Were So Many Tourists Missing?

The affected region is used by international tourists, trekkers and pilgrims traveling between Nepal and Tibet. Nepal’s tourism authorities said hundreds of travelers were out of contact after the flooding. The missing include tourists from India, the United States, Ukraine, Australia, Britain, Canada and several other countries. Some travelers were in the region as part of journeys toward Mount Kailash in Tibet, an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus. Others were trekking or traveling through Rasuwa when the disaster struck. The sudden nature of the flooding gave people little time to escape, while the mountainous terrain has made rescue operations difficult.

Have Any Americans Been Rescued?

Two U.S. citizens were among a group of foreign tourists rescued from the Rasuwa and Bhotekoshi areas, according to an Aug. 27 update from Nepal’s tourism authorities. The rescues mean that some people initially listed as missing have been located, which is one reason the number of unaccounted-for travelers has continued to change.

Search teams are still checking affected areas, riverbanks and downstream locations for people who remain unaccounted for.

What Is the U.S. Government Doing?

U.S. officials are working with Nepalese authorities to identify and assist American citizens affected by the disaster.

The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu is coordinating with local authorities and travel companies to determine the whereabouts of U.S. citizens. The State Department has also deployed a disaster-response adviser and announced $500,000 in emergency assistance for shelter, relief supplies, water, sanitation and hygiene support.

Americans concerned about relatives in Nepal have also been given emergency contact information through the State Department.

The immediate priority remains search and rescue. Damaged roads and bridges have complicated access to some communities, while helicopters are being used to reach people stranded in isolated areas and deliver emergency supplies. The number of missing Americans could change as authorities reconcile immigration, tourism and travel records with reports from families and tour operators.

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