What caused the Nepal-Tibet flash floods?

More than 1,300 individuals are reported missing and over 270 deaths have been confirmed following flash floods and landslides at the Nepal-Tibet border. The victims encompassed hikers, climbers from various countries, and Hindu pilgrims drawn to the Himalayan nation for its challenging peaks. These numbers are expected to change as investigations continue, with potential discrepancies arising from double-counting, body matching, and the aftermath of such disasters.

According to Nepal's disaster agency, 823 people remain unaccounted for, comprising at least 517 foreigners. The tourism board reported 644 missing tourists in total, which includes Nepali and foreign nationals, without providing a breakdown of nationalities. On the Chinese side, 558 people, including 260 foreigners, are missing, while India has 178 citizens missing.

The United States has 65 citizens unaccounted for, a significant increase from less than 15 reported the previous day. Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, Russia, South Africa, Latvia, Japan, New Zealand, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Belarus, Bulgaria, Finland, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Serbia, Sweden, and Switzerland have all reported missing nationals.

China's ministry disclosed that over 50 Malaysians are unreachable, while the tourism board listed 51. Australia reported 35 missing Australians, while New Zealand mentioned five New Zealanders as unaccounted for. France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Belarus, Bulgaria, Finland, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Serbia, Sweden, and Switzerland each reported missing citizens from their respective countries.

China's figures for foreigners, though categorized as such, did not specify nationalities. Additionally, several tour groups have reported missing foreigners with unconfirmed nationalities, including 77 from Trekkers Society, 26 from Kailash Journey, and eight from Richa Tours & Travels. These figures are subject to change as more information becomes available.