This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
A flash flood swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa district along the border with Tibet early Wednesday, and the toll on travelers is still coming into focus. The Nepal Tourism Board said in a statement posted to X that 384 people were reported missing, including 291 foreign nationals, among them travelers from the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Malaysia, South Africa, the Netherlands and Australia. The board said local tourism and law enforcement officials were working to verify the whereabouts of tourists and travelers who were in or passing through the affected areas.
At least three American tourists were confirmed missing while traveling with Fishtail Tours and Travel, a Nepali outfitter that told reporters it had no further information on their whereabouts. The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu said it was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and devastation” caused by the flooding and said it remains in close contact with Nepali authorities while working to account for U.S. citizens who may have been affected. The embassy urged Americans to avoid the affected areas for now.
The flood hit villages in the Syapru Besi and Timure areas, both along popular trekking routes near the Tibet border, and high water has slowed rescue efforts in some spots. Reported death tolls have varied widely across early accounts, so a confirmed figure was not yet settled as of this writing.
Nepal’s government has mobilized its response, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah convening the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and the Nepal Army sending helicopters and rescue personnel to the region. On the Chinese side, officials reported that a mudslide disrupted operations at the Gyirong border crossing in Tibet, and Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered an all-out search-and-rescue effort.
For clients with plans touching the Langtang trekking region or the Gyirong-Rasuwagadhi border crossing, expect delays and possible route closures while assessments continue.
Advisors with travelers currently in Nepal, or booked into the region in the coming weeks,f should stay in direct contact with ground operators for the latest routing guidance rather than relying on early figures, which are likely to change.
