30 Canadians and permanent residents among missing after floods in Nepal, Tibet

OTTAWA – Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says 30 Canadians and permanent residents are missing following flash floods that swept through an area along the Nepal-Tibet border.

Authorities in Nepal and China reported Thursday that more than 390 people were killed and more than 1,400 were missing, including hundreds of foreigners and pilgrims. Hundreds of others have been displaced across the Himalayan region.

Rescue teams and military helicopters searched along the mountainous border, where a deadly torrent of water and mud several storeys high swept through communities Wednesday following a glacier collapse.

The Nepal tourism board website lists 667 foreign nationals among the missing, including 25 Canadians. None of the 31 foreign nationals reported as rescued by the tourism board are Canadian. 

A relative of Dhaval and Megha Shah said the couple from Port Moody, B.C., are among the missing Canadians. 

Nikita Shah, Dhaval’s cousin, said the couple was on a “spiritual journey” in Nepal and the last time they heard from them was Tuesday night.

Shah said the couple was staying at Hotel Kailash.

“We don’t know if the infrastructure is still there or not, like we get a lot of misinformation, so it would be very helpful if the Canadian government can help,” said Shah. “The Canadian government needs to do something about this.”

Anand said Global Affairs Canada is working closely with Nepalese and Chinese counterparts and that it’s co-ordinating with international partners and allies with citizens in the region.

“Our thoughts and solidarity are with everyone affected as they recover from this catastrophe,” Anand said on social media.

Global Affairs Canada said it’s deploying five consular officials to Kathmandu to support Canadians and work with local officials.

“Our consular officials are working urgently to establish contact with them and confirm their safety,” the department said in a statement Thursday. 

“They are also reaching out to travel agencies, local authorities and like-minded countries to gather additional information.”

Nepalese Canadian Community Services called for federal aid to support communities affected by the flooding.

“NCCS remains fully committed to working with all levels of government, community partners, and the broader Canadian community to support our families and loved ones in Nepal,” the non-profit organization said on social media. 

“May those who are missing be found safe, and may those impacted receive the support they urgently need.”

Global Affairs said it is in contact with humanitarian groups and is ready to contribute to humanitarian efforts as needed. The statement did not provide details about foreign aid. 

The Canadian Red Cross said it’s supporting relief operations through its existing partnership with the Nepal Red Cross Society.

As of Thursday afternoon, 858 Canadians had registered as being in Nepal and 18 in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Global Affairs said. 

“These numbers provide only an estimate of Canadians in the region as registration is voluntary,” the department said in a statement. 

“Therefore, the number of registrants for any given area may not be fully representative of the number of Canadians actually residing in or visiting that area.”

Global Affairs has also said establishing full communication with those on the ground is challenging due to power outages in the region.

Nepal’s tourism board said among the missing are 517 foreigners. They include 178 people from India, more than 60 from the United States and people from 30 other countries, including Ukraine, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Japan.

Many of the missing may have been on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus, Buddhists and others.

Climate experts at the Kathmandu-based International Center for Integrated Mountain Development said an avalanche from a glacier likely caused the flash flood.

In an emailed statement, they said water levels at one point on the Trishuli River rose by as much as nine metres in half an hour.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 27, 2026.

— With files from The Associated Press