Officials claim hundreds are dead in Nepal flooding, more than 1,400 remain missing

Nepali officials claimed Thursday that hundreds of tourists and Nepali citizens were killed in a massive flash flood this week and that more than 1,400 people remain missing between the Asian country and China.

The floods wiped out more than 25 miles of roads and washed away 40 suspension bridges, according to the New York Times, leaving a quarter of a million Nepalis stranded.

Nepal has confirmed at least 389 deaths so far, while the authorities in China reported three deaths in Tibet. Officials also said 900 people in Nepal are still missing and at least 558 people were missing in Tibet’s Gyirong County of China, meaning the death toll is expected to rise.

The massive flooding began Wednesday on the Bhotekoshi River, located along Nepal's Himalayan border with China's Tibet. A mudslide/avalanche, perhaps triggered by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, set off the flooding.

Hundreds of tourists are still missing, including from Australia, Canada, India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

President Donald Trump said there were between 50 and 60 U.S. citizens in Nepal when the disaster happened.

“We are sending aid, and we’ve spoken to the leadership, and we let them know anything they want will happen,” Trump said in the Oval Office. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.