People from more than 30 countries have been reported missing following devastating flash floods that struck the Nepal-China border region after a glacier collapsed in Tibet on Wednesday.
Authorities in Nepal and China said Thursday that the disaster had left more than 160 people dead and over 1,300 unaccounted for. A significant number of those missing are foreign nationals who had travelled to the region for trekking or pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a revered Hindu site.
The figures differ between agencies because of variations in data collection, reporting and verification procedures, along with difficulties in coordinating information between authorities compiling the lists and rescue teams operating in the disaster-hit areas.
Nepal
Nepalese police reported at least 165 deaths and 826 people missing. According to local reports citing the National Emergency Operation Center, those unaccounted for include 113 Nepali tourists, 85 army and police personnel, 161 residents of Rasuwa district and one person from Nuwakot district.
Later on Thursday, Nepal's National Tourism Board said 517 foreign nationals were among the missing.
China
Chinese state media reported three deaths and 558 people missing in Gyirong County in Tibet. CCTV said 260 of those missing were foreigners.
China's Foreign Ministry also reported that nearly 100 Chinese nationals were missing on the Nepalese side of the border.
Missing Foreign Nationals
According to Nepal's tourism board, 179 Indians are among those missing, with most believed to have been travelling to Mount Kailash for pilgrimage.
The board reported 65 missing US citizens, 51 Malaysians, 35 Australians, 33 Britons and 25 Canadians.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said 53 Ukrainians were listed as missing, including 46 tourists who had lost contact with Nepalese authorities.
Nine South Koreans working on a hydropower project in Nepal were also reported missing by their government.
The tourism board said eight Singaporeans, eight Germans, eight Russians, six South Africans, six Latvians and five New Zealanders were missing.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed concern over five Japanese nationals reported missing by local media.
Four French citizens, three Belgians and three Spaniards were also reported missing.
The tourism board said two people each from Italy, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Ireland and the Netherlands remained unaccounted for.
In addition, one person each from Belarus, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Serbia and Sweden was reported missing.