Hundreds of foreign tourists missing after Nepal‑Tibet landslides

Nepal and Tibet were hit by sudden flash floods and massive landslides on Thursday, leaving nearly 1,500 people unaccounted for and at least 359 confirmed dead. The disaster struck popular trekking routes, trapping hikers, climbers and Hindu pilgrims who had travelled to the Himalayas.

Scale of the disaster

The Nepalese disaster agency reported 823 people still missing on its side, including 517 foreigners. The Nepal Tourism Board gave a slightly lower total of 667 missing travellers, a mix of Nepali residents and international visitors. Across the border, China said 558 people were missing, of whom 260 were non‑Chinese nationals.

Among the missing are 178 Indians, 65 Americans, a sharp rise from the previous day, 34 Australians, 51 Malaysians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians. Smaller groups from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, France, Germany, Latvia, Russia, Spain and New Zealand are also listed. The Anthony Albanese said, "Our thoughts are with all those who will be concerned about their loved ones today."

Our thoughts are with all those who will be concerned about their loved ones today.

International response and next steps

Rescue teams from Nepal, China and several foreign embassies are combing the rugged terrain, but the region’s remote nature and ongoing after‑shocks make progress slow. Authorities are urging families to register missing relatives and are coordinating with tour operators to verify passenger lists. The situation is expected to evolve over the coming days as more bodies are recovered and some of the missing are located. Governments are likely to issue travel advisories for the Himalayas, which could dent the lucrative trekking season that usually peaks in autumn. In the meantime, the focus remains on locating survivors, identifying the deceased and providing support to the affected families.