More than 1,300 people, including over 700 foreign nationals, are reported missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet region after a massive collapse of mud and rock into a Himalayan river caused severe flooding in local towns and valleys.

Nepalese police and tourism officials confirmed on Thursday, August 27th, 2026, that more than 500 foreigners are among the 823 people missing in Nepal. Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle said the confirmed death toll of at least 177 is expected to rise significantly as search operations resume: “This will go up, as we have resumed the search and more bodies are expected to be recovered.”

Among the missing tourists from over two dozen countries, 177 are from India, 63 from the United States, 34 from Australia, 33 from the United Kingdom, and 25 from Canada. In Tibet’s Gyirong county, 558 people are reported missing, including 260 foreign nationals, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

More than 5,000 army and police personnel are involved in rescue efforts, which have so far retrieved 125 people, including 20 foreigners. Popular Indian spiritual leader Sadhguru (Jagdish Vasudev) reported that some 77 Hindu pilgrims were at the Nepal-China border immigration office when the flood struck on Wednesday.

Sagar Pandey, chief executive of a Himalayan tourism operator, stated that 15 Indian-Australian pilgrims traveling with his company are among the missing. The US State Department announced it is dispatching a disaster response adviser and providing $500,000 in emergency aid.

Sources