On August 26th, a sudden flood and mudslide occurred in the border area between Nepal and Tibet, resulting in at least 160 deaths and over 800 people missing. Nepalese authorities have reported that among the missing are at least 54 Americans. The U.S. State Department stated that they are closely monitoring the situation and preparing to provide assistance.
The U.S. Embassy in Nepal issued a statement on social media platform X, saying they are working to confirm the identities of American citizens who may have been affected by the flood. The embassy also mentioned, “If you are in the affected area, please send an email to KathmanduACS@state.gov with your full name, current location, situation, and the name of your travel agency or trekking company.” American citizens in need of urgent assistance can call the U.S. Embassy at +977-1-423-4000. For local search and rescue assistance, they can call the Nepal disaster hotline 1234.
According to CNN, a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday that they are aware of American citizens being affected by the flood in Nepal and are closely monitoring the situation.
The spokesperson did not reveal the number of affected American citizens or their current status. However, they mentioned, “The U.S. State Department staff in Washington D.C. and Kathmandu are monitoring the situation and staying in touch with the Nepalese government. The U.S. is prepared to provide assistance.”
The spokesperson also mentioned that the U.S. Embassy in Nepal is closely working with local travel agencies and government authorities to assist American citizens in the affected areas. They urge American citizens in the region to “stay updated with local news, follow emergency instructions issued by local government,” and register with the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to “receive important emergency information.”
BBC reported that Nepalese officials are currently trying to confirm the whereabouts of 579 tourists, including 466 foreign tourists from 28 different countries. Among the missing tourists, there are 113 Nepalese, 54 Americans, and 33 British nationals.
A travel company in Nepal, “Fishtail Tours and Travel,” confirmed to ABC News that among the missing tourists travelling with them, three are American citizens.
The Nepal Tourism Board stated that local tourism and law enforcement agencies are working to “verify the whereabouts and safety of tourists and travelers in the affected areas or who passed through.”