Nationals from at least 34 countries are missing after devastating floods hit the border region of Nepal and China. According to the latest data, at least 359 people have died in the natural disaster, more than 1,300 remain missing, the Associated Press reports.
The missing include tourists, trekking group members, pilgrims, as well as local residents and law enforcement officers. The National Tourism Board of Nepal reported that 517 foreign nationals from 33 countries are being searched in the country. In addition, about 100 Chinese citizens are missing in Nepal.
Among the foreigners whose fate remains unknown are citizens of India, the United States, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Russia, South Africa, Latvia, Japan, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belarus, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Serbia and Sweden.
Among foreign nationals, the largest number of missing are citizens of India - 178 people. It is followed by the United States - 65, Ukraine - 53, Malaysia - 51, Australia - 35, the United Kingdom - 33 and Canada - 25.
At least three people have been killed and 558 are missing in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China's Jirong County. Chinese state media reported that 260 of them were foreigners. This brings the total number of missing on both sides of the border to more than 1,300.
The devastating floods hit the border regions of Nepal and Tibet on August 26, after a glacier collapsed and a huge mass of ice, rocks and mud slid down. The floods destroyed settlements, roads and bridges. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but are being hampered by damaged infrastructure and the difficult access to the affected areas.
