"400 Missing Tourists" in 'Worst' Disaster... The 'Decisive' Reason Foreigners Were Heavily Impacted

Amid massive floods in Nepal, a significant number of the missing have been identified as foreigners.

The regional characteristic of the affected area being close to a sacred site visited by Hindu pilgrims and a famous tourist destination crowded with hikers from around the world appears to have increased the casualties among foreigners.

According to Nepal's Ministry of Tourism as of yesterday (the 26th), 468 tourists are reported missing due to floods and landslides in the central-northern Bagmati Province.

Among the missing, 393 are foreign nationals.

In an earlier tally, Nepal's Ministry of Tourism stated that at least 133 of the missing were Indian nationals who were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a Hindu holy site.

In addition, dozens of Americans, Australians, British, and Canadians are also missing.

Citing announcements by country on the status of the missing, CNN reported that in addition to citizens from India, the United States, and Australia, 9 South Koreans, as well as nationals from Western countries such as Italy and Portugal, are also missing.

Nepal's Ministry of Tourism stated that at least 62 Nepalese who were trekking near a lake in the Rasuwa district of Bagmati Province, coinciding with the traditional Nepali festival of Janai Purnima on the upcoming 28th, are also missing.

The Wall Street Journal explained, "Devastating floods in the high Himalayas swept through a village popular with Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims."

Around this time every year, hundreds of pilgrims gather around Mount Kailash, which is revered in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and the floods struck routes frequently used by pilgrims and tourists, compounding the damage.

Nepal is currently in its monsoon season, making it unsuitable for climbing, but the "Kailash Trek" along the routes in the Rasuwa district is known as a peak season.

(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Yu-jin | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.