Hundreds of Tourists Including 25 Canadians Missing After Horrific Nepal Floods

Twenty-five Canadians are among the hundreds missing after catastrophic mudslides and flash flooding along the Nepal-China (Tibet) border.

At this writing, the disaster left 273 people confirmed dead and more than 1,300 missing, including tourists and pilgrims.  

Bharat Raj Paudyal, Nepal’s ambassador to Canada, told CBC News on August 26 that while he cannot confirm the circumstances around the missing Canadians, the affected area is both popular with hikers and also a route often used by those on pilgrimage.

The Nepal Tourism Board is posting updates on its website.

Horrific videos of the tragedy showed the flood swallowing people as they tried to escape, with buildings and bridges being destroyed in its path. Drone footage revealed scenes of devastation.

The steep slopes and deep valleys below the Himalayan mountain range are especially vulnerable to flooding and landslides. Scientists say human-caused climate change is causing glaciers to melt, making flooding more common. 

Researchers in Kathmandu found earlier this year that glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are melting faster, with ice loss rates doubling since 2000.