Filipino Among Over 1,300 Missing After Nepal-Tibet Floods

Search and rescue operations continued on Thursday, August 27, after catastrophic floods and mudflows devastated communities along the Nepal-Tibet border, leaving at least 270 people dead and more than 1,300 others missing, including a Filipino traveler.

The disaster struck after a glacier collapse triggered a massive torrent of water and mud that swept through several communities in the Himalayan region.

Rescue teams are searching for hundreds of people who remain unaccounted for as authorities face major challenges reaching affected areas. Dozens of bridges were destroyed, while nearly 40 kilometers of roads sustained damage, complicating access to isolated communities.

The Nepal Tourism Board reported that 644 travelers were among those missing as of Thursday. The figure included one Filipino, as well as travelers from Nepal, India, Canada, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Ukraine, and other countries.

Among the missing travelers were 127 from Nepal, 178 from India, 25 from Canada, 35 from Australia, 65 from the United States, 51 from Malaysia, and 53 from Ukraine.

The identity and circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the Filipino traveler were not immediately disclosed.

Malacañang had earlier said there were no reported Filipino casualties in the flooding and landslides. However, the tourism board’s latest update listed one traveler from the Philippines among those still missing.

The Nepalese army has deployed helicopters and rescue teams to assist people stranded by the disaster. Army spokesman Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet said more than 100 people were rescued from flood-hit areas through helicopter operations on Thursday.

At least eight foreign nationals were also airlifted to Kathmandu, while army personnel evacuated people trapped in facilities associated with the Trishuli hydropower project.

Search teams have recovered bodies as far as 100 kilometers downstream from the main disaster zone in Chitwan district. Dozens of injured survivors have been transported to Kathmandu for further medical treatment.

Authorities said relief operations are now expanding as the scale of displacement becomes clearer.

Bishal Kumar Bhandari, chairperson of the Nepal Red Cross Society, said the response is increasingly focused on providing assistance to communities affected by the floods. Around 1,200 people from at least three villages have been displaced.

Across the border in Tibet, mudslides also caused extensive damage near the Gyirong land crossing. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that surrounding areas were buried under mud averaging more than 1.5 meters deep, with some road sections covered by more than two meters of debris.

The destruction of roads and bridges has slowed rescue efforts and made it difficult for authorities to determine the full number of casualties and missing persons.

Officials continue to search for survivors while monitoring conditions in affected areas. With more than 1,300 people still unaccounted for, authorities have warned that the casualty figures could change as rescue teams gain access to isolated communities.

The situation also remains a concern for foreign governments as officials work to determine the whereabouts of travelers caught in the disaster, including the Filipino reported missing by the Nepal Tourism Board.