China-Nepal floods kill 359, leave over 1,400 missing

Catastrophic flash floods along the China-Nepal border have killed at least 359 people and left more than 1,400 missing, with hundreds of foreign nationals among those unaccounted for as rescue agencies continue operations and governments seek information about their citizens

Washington: Catastrophic flash floods in a border area between China and Nepal have killed at least 359 people and left more than 1,400 missing as of Thursday. Many of them were foreigners in the area for trekking, guided tours or a pilgrimage to a sacred Hindu site.

The number of people reported missing after Wednesday’s disaster may vary across agencies because of differences in how data was collected, when it was reported and how it was verified, as well as gaps in coordination between those compiling the data and those conducting rescue efforts in the affected area.

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A look at how multiple countries have been affected:

Nepal

Nepal’s disaster management authority said the death toll had risen to 359, with 910 people, including 517 foreign nationals, still missing. The authority added that 50 foreigners had been rescued by air so far.

Local reports cited the National Emergency Operation Centre as saying on Thursday that the missing included 113 Nepali tourists, 85 security personnel from the army and police, as well as 161 residents of Rasuwa district and one resident of Nuwakot district.

China

State media reported that at least three people had died and 558 were missing in Gyirong County, Tibet. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that 260 of the 558 missing people were foreigners. In addition, nearly 100 Chinese citizens were missing on the Nepal side, China’s Foreign Ministry said.

India

India’s External Affairs Ministry said 288 Indian nationals remained uncontactable. They included 73 people who were working on a power project. Nepal officials said many Indian tourists were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus.

United States

The US State Department said 90 Americans were unaccounted for in China and Nepal. It said it was not aware of any US deaths. Three Americans had been rescued.

Malaysia

The board said 51 Malaysians were missing.

Ukraine

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said 55 Ukrainians were missing. The number included two tourist groups comprising 47 people and seven others, in addition to one Ukrainian woman travelling with a foreign tour group, the ministry said.

Australia

The Australian government said 39 Australians were missing.

Britain

The board said 33 of the missing were from Britain.

Canada

Nepal’s tourism board said 25 of the missing were from Canada.

South Korea

South Korean government officials said nine citizens working on the construction of a hydropower plant in Nepal were missing.

Singapore

Eight Singaporeans were missing, according to Nepal’s tourism board.

Germany

Nepal’s tourism board said eight tourists from Germany were missing.

Russia

The Russian Embassy in Nepal said eight of its citizens were missing.

South Africa

The board said six South Africans were missing.

Latvia

The board said six tourists from Latvia were missing.

Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed concern about five Japanese nationals whom local media reported were missing.

New Zealand

Five people from New Zealand were missing, Nepal’s tourism board said.

France

The board said four French citizens were missing.

Belgium

The board said three people from Belgium were missing.

Spain

The board said three visitors from Spain were missing.

Others

The board said two people each from Italy, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Ireland and the Netherlands were missing. It said 10 others — one each from Belarus, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Serbia and Sweden — were also missing.