At least 667 tourists remain missing in Nepal following catastrophic flooding that also devastated parts of neighbouring Tibet, with 540 foreign nationals from 31 countries among those unaccounted for, tourism officials said on Thursday.
In Tibet’s Gyirong county, another 558 people were reported missing, including 260 foreigners, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. Details of their nationalities were not immediately available.
Indian nationals make up the largest group of foreign tourists missing in Nepal, with at least 288 unaccounted for, while another 200 Indians were stranded in China, according to India’s Foreign Ministry.
Nearly 100 Chinese citizens were reported missing in Nepal in areas affected by severe flooding and mudslides, while Nepal’s tourism authorities said at least 65 US citizens were also unaccounted for.
Malaysia said 55 of its nationals could not be contacted, although Nepal’s Tourism Board put the number at 51. Authorities also reported 53 Ukrainians, 33 British citizens, 25 Canadians and at least 25 Australians missing.
Nine Singaporeans and several South Koreans were also unaccounted for. South Korea said nine of its nationals working at a hydropower plant were missing, while another 10 were stranded.
The missing also include nationals from Russia, Germany, Latvia, South Africa, Japan and New Zealand.
Nepal’s Tourism Board said citizens of several other countries remained unaccounted for, including Belarus, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, Spain and Sweden.
Authorities from several countries are working with Nepalese officials to locate their nationals as search-and-rescue operations continue across areas devastated by the flooding.