Approximately 85 Americans are still missing following devastating flash floods along the border of Nepal and Tibet, the State Department confirmed Sunday.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott appeared on ABC’s “This Week” to deliver the latest figures on American citizens affected by the disaster.
“This morning, I can say we now have 85 Americans, approximately, that are unaccounted for. We’ve also now seen nine Americans be safely evacuated,” Pigott told host Martha Raddatz.
Pigott stressed that the department remains cautiously optimistic about American casualties, saying officials are “currently unaware of any U.S. citizen deaths at this time.”
The broader human toll from the disaster has been severe, with more than 800 people reported dead across Nepal and Tibet combined.
Local authorities said Sunday that roughly 3,000 people remain missing across both countries as search and rescue operations continue in difficult terrain.
The flash flood tore through the two nations early Wednesday after the Bhotekoshi River surged at approximately 9 a.m. local time, overwhelming communities along its banks.
The U.S. Geological Survey pointed to a glacial collapse near the China-Nepal border at 8:37 a.m. as a likely trigger for the catastrophic flooding, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
The State Department has surged assistance to its embassies in both Kathmandu and Beijing to help coordinate the emergency response for affected Americans.
Officials are also working directly with the Nepali government to support ongoing rescue efforts and account for all missing citizens as quickly as possible.
The department will channel hundreds of thousands of dollars in humanitarian assistance through its global award with Catholic Relief Services to support affected communities.
That aid is expected to cover emergency shelter, essential relief items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services for flood-displaced populations in the hardest-hit areas.
