State Department gives update on missing Americans after deadly Nepal floods kill over 900

KATHMANDU, NEPAL: Around 80 Americans remain unaccounted for after catastrophic flooding in Nepal killed 903 people and left thousands missing, according to the US State Department and local officials.

The latest figure is down from an earlier estimate of at least 90 missing Americans. A State Department spokesperson told Fox News that 13 American citizens have made their way to safety in Nepal as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

Thousands missing after devastating Nepal floods

Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sunday that about 4,200 people were still missing after the disaster, while more than 10,000 people had been rescued from affected areas.

More than 323 foreign nationals were among those rescued, while approximately 590 foreign nationals from 39 countries remained missing, officials said.

The disaster occurred in north-central Nepal when a distant slope failure involving a glacier triggered a massive debris flow. The flow traveled roughly 62 miles downstream before hitting a populated area.

22 Americans among missing pilgrimage group in Nepal

Twenty-two of the missing Americans were part of a pilgrimage affiliated with the Tennessee-based Isha Foundation, according to Isha Foundation coordination leader Jyoti Jankowski.

Jankowski told the outlet that the group was inside an immigration building when the flooding struck the area.

Footage from the disaster showed a surge of water, mud, rocks and other debris moving through valleys and engulfing buildings.

The State Department said it was "monitoring the situation and is deploying a disaster response advisor to the region to support response efforts."

The department also announced $500,000 in assistance through its global award with Catholic Relief Services. The funding will support emergency shelter, relief items, and water, sanitation and hygiene assistance for communities affected by the floods.

Nepal is also receiving international assistance, with relief supplies arriving from countries including India and China. Additional supplies are expected from the US, United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, Qatar, the UK, Australia, South Korea, Japan and other countries.

USGS investigates possible glacier collapse behind Nepal disaster

The US Geological Survey said investigators have not yet determined whether the initial event was a landslide involving part of a glacier or a glacial collapse.

The glacier-related event resulted in a magnitude 5.2 earthquake, according to the USGS. A second seismic event occurred about three hours later and generated energy equivalent to a magnitude 4.2 earthquake.

The agency said glacial debris containing water and ice rapidly melted as it moved downslope, picking up additional material and water from existing stream and river channels and creating a fast-moving flow carrying boulders and other debris.