607 foreign tourists from 34 countries missing since Bhotekoshi floods

KATHMANDU: A total of 607 foreign tourists from 34 countries remain unaccounted for following the Bhotekoshi flash flood on August 26.

Department of Tourism Information Officer Suraj Ghimire said the tourists had been travelling to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet, Gosaikunda and Mustang for the Janai Purnima festival. Those missing include 269 men and 329 women, while the gender of nine people has not been identified.

Indian nationals account for the largest number of missing foreign tourists, with 189 still out of contact. The others include 65 nationals from the US, 55 from Malaysia, 54 from Ukraine, 37 from China, 33 each from Australia and Latvia, 32 from the UK, 30 from Canada, nine each from Korea and Singapore, eight from Germany, six each from Russia and South Africa, five each from New Zealand and Japan, four from France, and three from Kazakhstan.

Two nationals each from Belarus, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Estonia, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands are also missing, along with one each from Finland, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hungary, Israel, Switzerland, Sweden and Lithuania.

The number of Nepali tourists who remain unreachable since the disaster stands at 188. They had accompanied the foreign tourists as guides and helpers.

Search and rescue operations are continuing, with 310 foreign nationals rescued so far. Those rescued include 258 men and 52 women.

Local governments and security agencies have also stepped up relief distribution.

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