Floods in Nepal: Nearly 1,100 people are missing, including 55 Ukrainians

Update as of 10:30 a.m.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs press service, 1,100 people (400 locals and 700 tourists) are currently considered missing. Among them are 55 Ukrainian citizens.

These include two tour groups consisting of 47 and 7 Ukrainians, respectively, as well as one Ukrainian citizen who was part of a foreign tour group. As of now, there is no information regarding whether any Ukrainian citizens are among the dead or injured.

This was reported by Reuters.

The disaster occurred on August 26 in a mountainous region traversed by tourist and pilgrimage routes between Lhasa in Tibet and Kathmandu in Nepal. A powerful torrent of water, mud, and debris destroyed homes, roads, and infrastructure.

In Nepal, police reported 826 people missing, nearly 600 of whom are foreigners. Among the tourists whose fate remains unknown are citizens of more than two dozen countries. Specifically, 177 Indian citizens, 63 U.S. citizens, 34 Australian citizens, 33 British citizens, and 25 Canadian citizens are missing.

In the Chinese region of Gyirong in Tibet, another 558 people are missing, including 260 foreign nationals.

Keshav Prasad Baral, 68, who survived the disaster, told Reuters that he tried to save his wife when the floodwaters began to enter their home. His wife was swept away by a wave of mud. The man himself managed to reach a safe place, from where he was evacuated by helicopter four hours later.

Another survivor said he saved himself by clinging to a mango tree. He watched as his house disappeared beneath the torrent of water and debris.

More than 5,000 soldiers and police officers have been mobilized in Nepal to search for survivors and the dead. Helicopters are delivering tents, food, and other essential supplies—provided by neighboring India—to isolated areas.

Rescue efforts are being hampered by the mountainous terrain. In the Chinese part of the region, authorities have also warned of the risk of a lake breach caused by a blockage in the riverbed upstream. This could pose an additional threat to people and complicate the search operation.

Initially, Nepalese officials speculated that the disaster might have been triggered by an earthquake. However, the U.S. Geological Survey clarified that the tremors, initially measured at 4.4 on the magnitude scale, were caused by the collapse of ice and rock itself and the subsequent mudslide.

International Aid

The international community has already begun providing assistance. The U.S. is sending a disaster response advisor and allocating $500,000 in aid. The UN is also sending personnel and humanitarian supplies to the affected areas.

Canada and Australia have stated that they are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to respond to the needs of their citizens.

As a reminder, due to the massive flooding in Nepal, 53 Ukrainian citizens are considered missing, including a group of 46 Ukrainian tourists with whom contact was lost on the morning of August 26. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also received eight reports from relatives regarding the loss of contact with their loved ones. Ukrainian diplomats are working with local authorities to determine their whereabouts.