Hundreds of foreign travelers remain missing after catastrophic flash floods tore through northern Nepal, leaving governments around the world warning tourists to stay away from affected areas
As of Thursday evening (August 27), Nepal’s Tourism Board and Euronews report that 644 tourists were still missing
According to EarthSky, the disaster began at 8:37 am local time on Aug. 26 near Nepal’s border with China. The U.S. Geological Survey writes that a glacial collapse likely sent ice, water and rock spilling downhill, creating a debris flow and flood that traveled over 60 miles through river valleys below
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Roads, bridges and communications have been devastated elsewhere, making parts of Nepal difficult or impossible to reach as rescuers search for those still missing. A small reprieve is that the flooding did not reach the Kathmandu Valley, and the country’s main international airport remains open
Hundreds of Travelers Are Still Missing
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SITUATION UPDATE- 3
Bhotekoshi Flash Flood
August 27, 2026 pic.twitter.com/CO8MGUzzBq— Nepal Tourism Board (@nepaltourismb) August 27, 2026
On August 28, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs listed 65 Americans, 25 Canadians, 33 British citizens, and 35 Australians as still missing. Nepal’s Tourism Board shared this update on social media
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The situation is ever-evolving, and so those figures remain fluid. By Friday morning, the U.S. State Department told Forbes that it was aware of approximately 90 Americans who could have been affected and that 5 Americans had reached safety
The United Kingdom, meanwhile, is sending a rapid-response team to Kathmandu to help British nationals and their families. The UK Foreign Office said the specially trained team is expected to arrive Aug. 29 and work alongside embassy staff and Nepali agencies
What Travelers in Nepal Are Being Told
Embassies representing Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland joined Australia and the European Union delegation in urging travelers in affected areas to follow instructions from Nepali officials and keep monitoring conditions
The UK Foreign Office warns that buildings, roads and even communication infrastructure may have been severely damaged in Rasuwa and along the Nepal-China border, leaving them susceptible to crumbling. More flooding is still possible, and conditions can change quickly
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Travelers are being urged to avoid rivers, unstable slopes and any damaged buildings. They are also urged to check road and weather conditions before heading anywhere. Euronews further recommends checking with hotels or tour operators before relocating. Travelers are advised to have their passports, medication and other essentials packed and ready to take in case an evacuation is needed
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