KATHMANDU — A Filipino has been reported missing following the devastating flash floods that swept through parts of Nepal near the border with China’s Tibet region, as rescue teams continue searching for hundreds of people still unaccounted for.
The Nepal Tourism Board-Trade reported in its Situation Update-3 on Thursday that one Filipino was among 644 people initially listed as missing or out of contact after the disaster. GMA News first reported the information on August 27.
The figure, however, has continued to change as authorities verify reports from affected communities, security agencies, tourism companies and foreign missions.
Missing-person count continues to rise
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority later reported 826 people missing in Nepal, including residents, security personnel and tourists. The Nepal Tourism Board said 590 tourists were reported out of contact, comprising 476 foreign nationals and 114 Nepali tourists.
The disaster has affected travelers from numerous countries. Reports identified missing foreign nationals from countries including India, the United States, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and Singapore.
Because authorities are still cross-checking names and locations, the figures should be treated as evolving rather than final.
What caused the deadly Nepal floods?
The catastrophe struck on Wednesday, August 26, after an apparent glacial or avalanche-related collapse in the Himalayas sent a massive surge of water, mud and rocks down the Lhende Khola river system toward Nepal.
The torrent devastated settlements and transport routes in areas including Rasuwa, Nuwakot and other downstream districts.
The Kathmandu Post reported that the flood swept away bridges, roads, vehicles and other infrastructure. At least 19 motorable bridges and about 40 kilometers of highway were reported destroyed in the initial assessment.
The suddenness of the event left residents and travelers with little time to escape. Experts and officials said the flood was particularly dangerous because the source of the disaster was upstream in a mountainous region where conventional warning systems could be overwhelmed.
Death toll climbs as rescue operations continue
The human toll has also risen sharply.
Nepalese authorities reported at least 165 deaths in Nepal, while Chinese authorities reported additional deaths in Tibet. International reporting put the combined death toll across the Nepal-Tibet region at more than 160, with more than 1,300 people still missing on both sides of the border in some of the latest assessments.
The numbers differ among reports because Nepal and China are using separate systems to account for residents, tourists, workers and people who have lost contact with their families or tour operators.
Reuters reported that rescue teams were continuing operations, with helicopters being used to deliver emergency supplies and evacuate survivors.
Filipino’s status remains unclear
For the Filipino reported missing, there was no immediate public confirmation of the person’s identity, location or condition in the GMA report.
The report also did not indicate that the Filipino had been confirmed dead.
That distinction is important: being listed as missing or out of contact does not automatically mean the person has died. Authorities and tourism officials are still attempting to establish the whereabouts of people whose communication was interrupted by the floods.
The Philippine government has expressed concern over the disaster. Manila Bulletin reported that no Filipino casualty had been reported at that point, while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed sympathy over the tragedy.
A disaster affecting tourists from around the world
The Nepal floods have become an international search-and-rescue operation because the affected region is an important route for tourists, trekkers and pilgrims traveling through the Himalayas.
The Associated Press reported that missing people included foreign tourists and pilgrims from more than 30 countries.
The disaster also underscores the dangers posed by rapidly developing hazards in high-altitude areas, where landslides, avalanches, glacial events and sudden floods can transform river valleys into deadly channels within minutes.
For families waiting for news of missing travelers—including the family of the Filipino reported missing—the search remains ongoing.
Authorities continue to verify the missing-person lists, meaning both the number of people unaccounted for and the status of individual travelers may change as rescue teams reach more affected areas.
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