At least 24 Canadian citizens are among hundreds reported missing after powerful flash floods swept through communities on the Nepal–Tibet border on Wednesday, Nepali officials and the Nepalese ambassador to Canada confirmed.
Scope of the disaster
Nepali police reported at least 157 people dead after torrents from the Bhotekoshi River and related waterways destroyed villages, roads and hydropower projects. Authorities in Nepal said the flooding struck around 9 a.m. local time and prompted urgent warnings to residents in several districts to stay well clear of riverbanks.
Officials also reported hundreds missing. Nepal’s tourism board and government spokespeople said the number of people unaccounted for includes a large contingent of foreign nationals travelling in the region, a popular route for hikers and some pilgrimage groups.
“We have asked both India and China to help us with the rescue efforts,”
The scale of the incident is heightened by reports from China’s state media that a mudslide in Tibet’s Gyirong County — adjacent to the Nepal border — killed at least three people and left a further 265 missing. Drone footage and images published by state outlets showed roads obliterated and buildings buried in mud and debris.
Canadians affected and Ottawa’s response
The Government of Canada said late Wednesday it was aware that Canadians have been affected by the floods but did not provide a precise figure in its initial statement. Global Affairs Canada said consular staff in the region are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to provide assistance to affected Canadians and to coordinate with local authorities.
Canadian officials urged travellers in the region to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) system so consular officials can make contact and offer support where needed.
Who is missing and immediate priorities
Nepalese authorities indicated that of the people reported missing, many were foreign nationals travelling in groups. The Nepal Tourism Board said 403 people, including 341 foreign nationals, were listed as missing in initial tallies; other nationalities named in official briefings included citizens from India, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
- Confirmed dead (Nepali police): 157
- Reported missing (Nepali authorities): 403
- Foreign nationals among missing: 341
- Canadians reported out of contact: 24
Officials on the ground cited a likely link to glacier instability in the warming Himalaya as a probable cause of an avalanche or sudden ice collapse that triggered the flooding. Images circulating in media showed homes and vehicles covered in mud, debris tangled in tree branches and survivors coated in silt.
| Report | Figure |
|---|---|
| Dead (Nepali police) | 157 |
| Missing (Nepal’s tourism board) | 403 |
| Foreign nationals among missing | 341 |
| Canadians reported out of contact | 24 |
| Missing in Tibet (reported by Chinese broadcaster) | 265 |
Context and next steps
The affected area is frequented by international trekkers and pilgrims, including those travelling to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for many Hindus and Buddhists. Nepalese officials appealed for international assistance and said they had asked both India and China for help in rescue operations.
Search and rescue work is ongoing amid difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure. The immediate priorities for authorities are locating missing people, treating the injured and restoring critical access routes to isolated communities.
For Canadians with friends or family in the region, Global Affairs Canada advises registering with ROCA and contacting consular services for assistance. The government has not provided further details on the condition of those reported missing.
The situation remains fluid and authorities in Nepal and neighbouring Tibet are expected to release updated figures as search operations continue.
