Nearly 90 Americans remain missing in Nepal-China flooding, State Department says

Roughly 85 Americans remain unaccounted for Sunday following this week’s catastrophic floods that swept through the Nepal-China border, killing hundreds and leaving over 3,000 people missing, according to a State Department official.

“Well, as of 6 a.m. this morning, I can say we now have 85 Americans, approximately, that are unaccounted for,” Thomas Pigott, a State Department spokesperson, said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

Nine Americans have been safely evacuated, and there are no reported American deaths so far, Pigott confirmed.

Sunday marks the fifth day of the dangerous flash flooding after experts say a glacial collapse in the warming Himalayan region caused Wednesday’s dangerous rush of high waters to sweep through communities along the border area of Nepal and China.

Initial reports placed the death toll at over 150 people on the Nepalese side, with at least three dead and over 260 people reported missing on the Chinese side. The death toll has since continued to climb to over 800 people total as of Sunday morning, with authorities in Nepal warning residents in affected areas to remain on high alert for possible fresh flooding.

Pigott said Sunday that U.S. officials are actively coordinating with Nepal’s government on recovery efforts, having pledged $3.6 million in emergency humanitarian assistance from the State Department, which he said includes “up to three months of emergency food for up to 10,000 flood-affected households.”

“We have a disaster area response adviser actually on the ground right now in communication to see how best we can offer assistance,” Pigott told host Martha Raddatz. “The situation on the ground, as you just saw, in terms of the mud and other things means that we have to get the right assistance in there.”

Part of the funding will go towards rebuilding damaged roads, mobilizing transport to people in hard-to-reach areas, while other funds will go to sanitation, shelter, water and other resources, Pigott said. The State Department previously announced $500,000 in assistance immediately after the disaster began.

Pigott on Sunday also urged any Americans in the region to register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to help rescue teams make contact with stranded Americans.

“The remoteness of this location makes getting reliable information difficult, but our dedication remains,” Piggot said. “Our commitment remains.”