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What began as a disaster high in the Himalayas has quickly become an international tragedy, with citizens of more than 30 countries among those missing after catastrophic floods struck the Nepal-China border.
The death toll stood at 474 on Friday morning before later reports pushed it above 500. More than 1,500 people remained unaccounted for across Nepal and Tibet, although authorities warned that the figures were changing as survivors were found and information from isolated areas was checked.
Many Nepalis in Cyprus work thousands of kilometers away from their families and send part of their wages home every month.
Hundreds of foreigners were caught in the disaster. Some were trekking through the mountains, others were working on construction and power projects, while many were making a religious pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a sacred destination for Hindus and Buddhists.
It was the kind of journey people plan for months, sometimes years. Then, within minutes, a wall of water, mud, ice and rock swept through roads, villages, hotels, border facilities and work sites.
Families waiting across the world
India has the largest known number of missing nationals, with 288 people still uncontactable. That figure includes 73 workers employed at a power project.
The United States said 90 Americans were unaccounted for, although three had been rescued and no American deaths had been confirmed.
Ukraine reported 55 missing citizens, most of them traveling in organized tour groups. Another 51 Malaysians, 39 Australians, 33 British citizens and 25 Canadians were also listed as missing.
Nine South Koreans working on a hydropower project were unaccounted for, along with tourists and workers from Singapore, Germany, Russia, South Africa, Latvia, Japan and New Zealand.
The list continues across Europe and beyond, with missing citizens reported from France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Bulgaria, Israel, the Philippines and several other countries.
Nearly 100 Chinese citizens were believed to be missing on the Nepalese side of the border. In Tibet’s Gyirong County, Chinese authorities reported hundreds more missing, including 260 foreigners.
The nationality figures should be treated as provisional. Some people may simply be stranded without phone service, while others could appear on more than one list compiled by tour companies, embassies and local authorities. Reuters reported that hundreds of foreign tourists from 31 countries were unaccounted for.
Why Cyprus feels this disaster
No Cypriots had been reported among the missing in the initial checks by Cyprus authorities. But the disaster is still painfully close to home for one of the island’s largest migrant communities.
Around 17,000 Nepalis live in Cyprus, many working in hotels, restaurants, construction, private homes and care services. For them, the long lists of missing people are not simply numbers in an international news report. They may include relatives, old classmates, neighbors, or friends of friends.
Many Nepalis in Cyprus work thousands of kilometers away from their families and send part of their wages home every month. When a disaster like this strikes, they are left relying on phone calls, social media posts and messages passed from one relative to another.
More than 3,000 people have been rescued, many by helicopter, and some of the missing may still be found alive in communities cut off by destroyed roads and bridges.
*With information from AP News
