Nepal floods: Death toll crosses 270, more than 1,300 remain missing

Rescue personnel carry the body of a victim who died after flash floods near Devighat, Bidur Municipality in Nepal`s Nuwakot district on Thursday. PIC/AFP

More than 1,300 people have been reported missing and over 270 confirmed dead after devastating flash floods and landslides struck areas along the Nepal-Tibet border, news agency AFP reported.

Among those unaccounted for are hikers, climbers, and tourists from across the world, many of whom travel to Nepal to take on some of the world's highest peaks, as well as Hindu devotees visiting the Himalayan nation on pilgrimage.

At least 178 Indians are among those reported missing, according to the latest figures released by Nepal's Tourism Board on Thursday.

The numbers are likely to change as search and rescue operations continue. Such fluctuations are common after major disasters, with authorities facing challenges including double-counting of dual nationals, matching recovered bodies with missing-person reports and the sheer chaos following a calamity.

Here's the latest on those reported missing:

At least 1,381 people unaccounted for

Nepal's disaster agency said 823 people were unaccounted for on Thursday, including at least 517 foreigners. It did not provide a breakdown of the Nepali nationals or the nationalities of the foreigners.

Nepal's Tourism Board, meanwhile, put the number of missing tourists - Nepali and foreign - at 644. Its latest figures provided a breakdown of several nationalities.

Across the border in Tibet, China said 558 people, including 260 foreigners, were missing.

Taken together, the figures amount to at least 1,381 people reported missing across the two sides of the border, although it is unclear whether there is any overlap between the lists.

India

Nepal's latest Tourism Board figures showed 178 Indian nationals were missing following the floods.

The figure makes India one of the countries with the largest number of nationals reported missing in the disaster.

Nepal

The Nepal Tourism Board said 127 Nepali visitors were among the 644 tourists listed as missing.

It was not immediately clear how many Nepali residents from the affected areas were also missing.

China

China's Foreign Ministry said nearly 100 Chinese nationals were among those missing in Nepal.

This was in addition to the 558 people, including 260 foreigners, reported missing on the Chinese side of the border.

United States

Sixty-five US citizens were reported missing, a sharp increase from a day earlier when the figure was less than 15.

Ukraine

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry cited Nepal's Tourist Police as saying 53 Ukrainian nationals were missing. The figure was also reported in Nepal's latest figures.

Malaysia

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said more than 50 Malaysians in Nepal could not be reached.

The latest figures put the number at 51.

Australia

Thirty-four Australians were reported missing following the floods, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. The latest figures put the number at 35.

United Kingdom

Thirty-three people from the United Kingdom were reported missing.

Canada

Twenty-five Canadians were among those reported missing.

South Korea

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said nine hydropower workers were out of contact in Rasuwa district following the floods.

Singapore

Nine Singaporeans were unaccounted for.

Germany

Eight German citizens were reported missing.

Russia

Eight Russian nationals were also unaccounted for.

South Africa

Six South African tourists were missing.

Latvia

Six Latvian tourists were also among those reported missing.

Japan

Five Japanese tourists were unaccounted for.

New Zealand

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Ministry said five New Zealanders were unaccounted for, matching the latest figures.

France

Four French citizens were among the missing.

Spain

Spain's Foreign Ministry reported four Spaniards missing, while the latest figures put the number at three.

Other nationalities

Belgium: Three
Portugal: Two
Netherlands: Two
Italy: Two
Ireland: Two
Kazakhstan: Two
Hungary: Two
Belarus: One
Bulgaria: One
Finland: One
Israel: One
Lithuania: One
Philippines: One
Serbia: One
Sweden: One
Switzerland: One

The figures above are from Nepal's latest data released on Thursday.

Nationalities yet to be confirmed

China's figure of 260 foreigners among the 558 missing on its side of the border did not include a breakdown by nationality.

Several tour groups operating in Nepal also reported missing foreign nationals on Wednesday, before the latest Tourism Board figures were released.

These included 77 people with Trekkers Society, 26 with Kailash Journey and eight with Richa Tours & Travels.

It was not immediately clear whether the latest Nepal Tourism Board figures included these missing travellers.

(With AFP inputs)