Nine Americans have been safely evacuated from Nepal, while about 85 remain unaccounted for after a catastrophic flood killed at least 750 people, the US State Department said Sunday.
Rescue crews are continuing an around-the-clock search near the Nepali-Tibetan border, combing through mud and debris for more than 3,000 people reported missing after last week’s disaster.
“This morning, I can say we now have 85 Americans, approximately, that are unaccounted for,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said on ABC News’ “This Week.”
Pigott added that nine Americans have been evacuated safely and said US officials are not currently aware of any American citizens who have died.
The State Department is helping coordinate the response through US embassies in Beijing and Kathmandu, though the remote area where the flooding struck has complicated efforts to gather information and reach those in need.
“Our embassies in Beijing and Kathmandu are working 24/7 in terms of communicating and coordinating with local officials, trying to get that reliable information,” Pigott said.
The flooding occurred near the Rasuwagadhi border post, where a landslide unleashed a powerful surge of water that swept through entire villages.
Some of the missing Americans had traveled to Nepal for a sacred Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, where thousands of people had gathered before the flood struck.
New Yorkers Amita Amin, 67, and Jitendra Manubhai Patel, 63, alongside Tejal Vyomesh Patel, 64, of New Jersey were taking part in the pilgrimage when they vanished in the disaster, Newsday reported.
The State Department has activated $3.6 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to the region, with the money set to assist 10,000 affected households, as well as the rebuilding of destroyed roads.
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