At least one Filipino is among more than 600 tourists reported missing in Nepal after a devastating flash flood swept through Nepal’s Bhote Koshi and Trishuli Rivers on Wednesday morning.
The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said 644 travelers – including 127 Nepali nationals – remain unaccounted for as rescue operations continue in the districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha.
The flood struck around 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 26, severely damaging riverside areas while leaving other regions unaffected.
Philippine non-resident Ambassador to Kathmandu Jose Ignacio confirmed receiving the same information from Nepali authorities. However, he could not yet provide additional details on the missing Filipino tourist.
The NTB’s missing persons list shows the largest numbers from India (178), Malaysia (51), Ukraine (53), the United States (65), and the United Kingdom (33). Tourists from more than 30 countries are included in the tally.
Authorities said the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Tourist Police, and local agencies based their list of missing tourists from trekking and travel companies.
‘The information is being verified and cross-checked in coordination with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies,’ the NTB said.
Emergency hotlines have been activated, with officials urging relatives and the public to remain calm and follow official instructions.
‘Tourist safety remains our first priority,’ the NTB said in its advisory, noting that search and rescue teams are working along the affected riverbanks.
n a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi – which is mandated to represent the Philippines in Nepal – and the Honorary Consulate General of the Philippines in Kathmandu, Nepal, are actively monitoring the situation in parts of northern Nepal that had been hit by massive flash floods.
‘The Embassy and the Consulate General are coordinating with Nepali authorities to determine whether there are affected Philippine nationals and provide emergency rescue or assistance,’ it said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing is also checking if there are Filipinos affected by the catastrophic flash flood from the Tibet border. Chinese officials announced Thursday at three people had been killed, 558 others were missing while 2 local villagers were rescued.
For inquiries related to the Nepal flash flood, the following are the contact details of the Embassy in New Delhi and Honorary Consulate in Kathmandu: