Thousands of people from countries around the world are missing after flash flooding devastated the mountainous border region between Nepal and China on Wednesday, killing at least 353 people and leaving more than 1,300 unaccounted for, according to officials and local reports.
Among those missing are at least 47 U.S. citizens, according to the latest figures. Local reports, citing Nepal’s National Emergency Operation Center, said those missing in Nepal included 113 Nepali tourists, 85 security personnel from the army and police, and 162 residents of nearby villages.
Nepal’s National Tourism Board later said Thursday that 517 foreigners were missing. Many had traveled to the region for trekking, hiking, and Hindu pilgrimages in the area.
https://infogram.com/nepal-floods-1hnq41oj87qyk23
The disaster has also left hundreds missing across the border in China. In Gyirong County in Tibet, 558 people were reported missing, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Of those, 260 were foreigners. China’s Foreign Ministry also said nearly 100 Chinese citizens were missing on the Nepalese side of the border.
India’s External Affairs Ministry said 288 Indian nationals remained uncontactable. Among them were 73 people working on a power project.
Missing people have been reported from the United States, Malaysia, Ukraine, Australia, Britain, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Russia, South Africa, Latvia, Japan, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
The floods are believed to have been triggered by melting glaciers and glacial activity in the rugged terrain of the Himalayas, sending torrents of water rushing through the region and sweeping away people, vehicles, and buildings.
The scale of the destruction has complicated rescue efforts. Nepalese officials said dozens of bridges were destroyed and more than 25 miles of roads were damaged, while about 1,200 people were displaced from nearby villages.
Dozens dead after flooding in Nepal with 47 Americans missing
Dozens of injured people have been transported to Kathmandu for advanced medical treatment as rescue crews continue searching for those missing.
The region experienced another major flood in August 2025, when a glacial lake in Tibet overflowed due to high temperatures. That disaster killed nine people and damaged critical infrastructure, including a bridge connecting Nepal and China.