Nepali government officials confirmed Tuesday that one American among the dozens of U.S. nationals missing in the Nepal-Tibet border flash floods has been contacted by rescue teams. The development follows a catastrophic disaster that has left at least 903 dead and roughly 4,200 people unaccounted for across Nepal and Tibet as of the latest official updates.
Rescue efforts continue as authorities provide new toll figures
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported Sunday that 903 bodies have been recovered and about 4,200 people remain unaccounted for, nearly doubling the previous estimate. Over 10,000 people have been rescued, including 323 foreign nationals. Among the missing, 590 foreign nationals from 39 countries are still unaccounted for, according to the ministry. Chinese authorities separately confirmed 16 deaths and over 550 missing in Tibet.
Foreign nationals among those rescued and still missing
An official document from the Nepal Tourism Board, compiled Monday evening, stated that rescuers were "in contact" with five foreign nationals among the thousands missing, including the unidentified American, three Spaniards, and one Belgian. The document also noted that 315 foreign nationals have been rescued in total. CBS News reported earlier this week that two Americans, Anjana Raja and Pattabiraman Venkatesan, were among those rescued. The couple, on a pilgrimage to Tibet, described the disaster as a "monster thing" resembling a dark, 60- to 70-foot wave of debris and water that engulfed their tour bus.
Disaster details and ongoing response
Officials attributed the disaster to a glacier slope failure in north-central Nepal, which triggered a rapidly moving debris flow traveling approximately 62 miles downstream before striking populated areas. Footage showed a massive surge of water and debris rushing through valleys, destroying buildings in its path. The State Department confirmed that 13 American citizens have reached safety in Nepal, down from an earlier estimate of at least 90 missing Americans. Twenty-two Americans affiliated with a Tennessee-based nonprofit, the Isha Foundation, were reported missing after being inside an immigration building when the flood struck.
Human impact and survivor accounts
Survivors described chaotic scenes as the floodwaters overwhelmed the region. Venkatesan recounted seeing the wave approach and initially mistaking it for a forest fire. The couple escaped by fleeing to higher ground and spending the night on a mountaintop. Rescue operations remain active as authorities work to locate and assist those still missing, with international coordination ongoing to support affected communities.