The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
A Filipino is among 644 travelers reported missing after deadly flash floods swept through villages and trekking routes in Nepal on August 26, according to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).
The NTB said Thursday that the figure was based on preliminary information gathered from various trekking and travel companies operating in the country.
Of the 644 people currently unaccounted for, 127 are Nepali nationals, while 516 are foreign nationals from 31 countries, including the Philippines, Australia, Canada, India, Germany, Singapore, Japan, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“The information is being verified and cross-checked in coordination with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies,” the NTB said.
The agency did not provide further details on the identities of those reported missing, as authorities continue efforts to establish their whereabouts and determine whether they are safe.
The report comes after Philippine officials earlier said they were coordinating with Nepalese authorities to verify information about a Filipino reported missing following the disaster along the Nepal-Tibet border.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had yet to confirm the report as of posting time.
Meanwhile, the human toll from the disaster continued to rise. An Anadolu Agency report placed the death toll at 162 as of Thursday morning, with rescue teams still searching for missing persons and assisting communities affected by the flash floods.
The disaster struck after massive amounts of mud, rocks and ice surged into waterways, sending torrents of debris through communities and trekking areas near the Nepal-China border.
The large number of missing travelers has heightened concerns for foreign tourists and trekkers in the affected areas, as authorities race to verify their status amid difficult rescue conditions.