47 Americans go missing as Nepal flood video shows massive wave swallowing terrified crowd

Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised

KATHMANDU, NEPAL: At least 47 Americans are among hundreds of people missing after a catastrophic flash flood tore through northern Nepal near the Tibet border on Wednesday, August 26, according to Nepali tourism authorities. 

The disaster killed at least 160 people across Nepal and Tibet as rescue crews searched for those still unaccounted for.

Terrifying video from the region has begun circulating online, capturing the moment the disaster unfolded.

US citizens remain missing

The flooding struck Nepal's Rasuwa district, an area used by tourists and pilgrims traveling through the Himalayas.

Nepalese authorities have continued revising the missing-person figures as information arrives from tour operators and local officials.

The changing numbers have added to the uncertainty for families trying to determine whether relatives are safe.

For families in the US, the situation is particularly concerning because communications and transportation links across parts of the region were severely disrupted.

Roads and bridges were swept away, while damage and difficult terrain have made some areas challenging for rescuers to reach.

The US Embassy in Nepal has urged Americans in affected areas to move away from low-lying locations, seek higher ground and follow directions from local authorities.

The State Department has also said it is monitoring the situation involving US citizens.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to provide humanitarian assistance to Nepal. He, however, did not react to the reports of missing US citizens in the disaster.

Video shows flood’s terrifying force

Terrifying footage circulating online captures an enormous wall of muddy water and debris suddenly surging through the mountainous landscape, overwhelming everything in its path.

People can be seen desperately scrambling away as the massive torrent crashes through the area, illustrating how little time those nearby had to react.

The flood swept across roads, buildings and infrastructure, leaving parts of the region buried under thick layers of mud.

Other footage showed widespread destruction across the affected areas, with buildings and other structures overwhelmed by the torrent.

Authorities are investigating what triggered the sudden surge.

Initial reports pointed to possible seismic activity, but the US Geological Survey later determined that the seismic signal detected around the time of the disaster was generated by the landslide rather than an earthquake.

For now, the search for the missing remains the most urgent task, particularly for families in the US waiting for word on Americans who traveled to Nepal and have yet to be accounted for.