90 Americans Unaccounted for Near Nepal-China Border After Deadly Floods

Washington — About 90 Americans remain unaccounted for in the Nepal-China border region following devastating floods that cut off remote mountain communities, while five U.S. citizens have reached safety in Nepal, the State Department said Friday.

No American deaths have been reported.

“As of 6:00 am EST 8/28, the State Department is aware of approximately 90 Americans unaccounted for in the Nepal/China cross-border region,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We can confirm that 5 American citizens have made their way to safety in Nepal. We are not aware of any U.S. citizen deaths at this time.”

The U.S. embassies in Nepal and China are working with local authorities and tour operators to locate and assist Americans in affected areas.

Search-and-rescue operations led by Nepalese authorities were continuing, while the State Department said it had increased consular staffing at the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu to provide round-the-clock assistance.

“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the spokesperson said.

The State Department is also monitoring developments and has deployed disaster response advisers to the region to support relief efforts.

Washington is providing $500,000 in assistance through a global partnership with Catholic Relief Services. The funding will support emergency shelter, relief supplies, food, water, sanitation and hygiene assistance for flood-affected communities in Nepal.

The United States has also offered search-and-rescue assistance to Nepal.

“We stand ready to support search and rescue efforts in coordination with the Government of Nepal, should such assistance be requested,” the spokesperson said.

Americans in affected areas have been advised to follow instructions from local authorities, monitor local news and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, to receive emergency updates.

U.S. citizens traveling through Rasuwa or other affected areas of Nepal have been asked to contact the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu and provide their full name, current location, status and the name of their tour or trekking company.

Americans in Gyirong County, Gyirong Port or other affected areas in China have been advised to contact the U.S. Embassy in Beijing when it is safe to do so.

The State Department also issued emergency contact numbers for people seeking information about relatives. Those concerned about Americans in Nepal can call 1-888-407-4747 from the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other locations.

People seeking information about relatives in China can call 010-8531 4000 from within China or 011-86-10-8531 4000 from the United States.

Officials cautioned that confirming the status of individual travelers could take time because of difficult terrain and limited access to the affected region.

“Obtaining reliable information, especially about individual cases, is a priority, and efforts are ongoing; however, the remoteness and limited accessibility of the devastated region and other factors may affect how quickly information can be confirmed and shared,” the spokesperson said.

Rasuwa is a mountainous district north of Kathmandu along Nepal’s border with China, where limited road access can complicate rescue operations after floods and landslides.

Gyirong, on the Chinese side of the border, is a major land crossing between Nepal and China and is used by residents, traders, tourists and trekking groups. (Source: IANS)