At Least 31 Killed, 3 U.S. Tourists Among Hundreds Still Missing, Following Fatal Flash Flood

The flood occurred near the Nepal-Tibet border on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 26

NEED TO KNOW

• At least 31 people have died following a flash flood that occurred near the Nepal-Tibet border on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 26
• Hundreds are still missing as authorities continue to search for those that might be trapped
• The Nepal Tourism Board confirmed that at least three people from the U.S. remained unaccounted for

At least 31 people have been killed and hundreds are missing following a flash flood in Nepal.

Local authorities in Nepal’s Bagmati province reported the latest death toll at around 5:25 p.m. local time, after a sudden flash flood occurred at the Bhote Koshi River, located near the country’s border with Tibet, just after 8:35 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Aug. 26, according to CNN and the BBC.

The Nepal Tourism Board shared on X that 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals remained missing following the flooding near the China-Nepal border.

At least three people from the U.S., who had been traveling through the area with the agency Fishtail Tours and Travels, were also reported missing, per the post.

Twelve tourists from the U.K., 17 from Malaysia, four from South Africa, one person from Australia, one from the Netherlands and 105 from India, are also believed to be among those missing. They’re said to have been traveling through the affected area at the time of the incident.

The Nepal Tourism Board stated that 111 foreign nationals, whose nationalities have not yet been verified, were unaccounted for, as well. 

The organization said authorities had been “working to verify the whereabouts and safety status” of tourists and travelers who were in or had been traveling through the affected areas at the time of the flooding.

Nepal’s foreign minister, Shishir Khanal, said, per the BBC and CNN, that an earthquake may have triggered the initial flash flooding in the area.

“An earthquake occurred at 8:37 a.m. today, and due to it, a large landslide occurred, blocking the river, which appears to have caused the flood,” Khanal said during a meeting at the country’s House of Representatives, per CNN.

The Nepali Army shared a video on X of helicopters being dispatched to affected areas to rescue people who went onto their roof to escape the flooding. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Another video shared by the Nepali Army showed first responders digging people out of the mud and getting them onto helicopters for safe transportation. Officials warned people to stay vigilant following the flooding. 

Tibet, which is under the control of China, was also affected by the incident, with Chinese state media warning of “major casualties,” according to CNN and the BBC.

China’s President Xi Jinping has urged “all-out” search efforts for those missing and has dispatched personnel to Tibet, after a mudslide occurred at a trade hub on the Tibetan side of the shared border, per the BBC.

Read the full article here