Residents view a street submerged by mud in Devighat, Nuwakot
Residents view a street submerged by mud in Devighat, Nuwakot district, on 26 August. Wisma Putra says 54 Malaysians are uncontactable following the floods. PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP via Getty Images

This is a developing story. Figures are provisional and rising.

The number of Malaysians unaccounted for after Wednesday's flash floods in northern Nepal has risen sharply, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirming that 54 Malaysians are uncontactable.

Anwar said Putrajaya would continue to closely monitor the situation and make all necessary efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of affected Malaysians remained a priority. Officers from the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka are being mobilised to help strengthen coordination on the ground, he said.

The figure has escalated rapidly. On Wednesday evening the Foreign Ministry said the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu had received reports from travel agencies of losing contact with 11 Malaysians believed to be in Rasuwa district. Nepal's Tourism Board subsequently listed 17 Malaysians among 291 foreign nationals reported missing.

Why contact was lost

Wisma Putra has been consistent that the loss of contact is believed to result from severe disruptions to communication and electricity networks caused by the disaster, rather than from confirmed harm.

Initial reports indicate widespread destruction of critical infrastructure across the affected region, including roads, bridges and telecommunications. The embassy said it is actively coordinating with Nepalese authorities and search-and-rescue teams deployed by the government there.

That distinction matters for families following the story. Being uncontactable in a region where the networks have been destroyed is not the same as being reported harmed.

The wider disaster

The flash flood struck the Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa district at around 8:30am local time on Wednesday, after an ice and rock avalanche near the Chinese border dammed a tributary before releasing a surge downstream.

Nepal Police recovered 95 bodies on the Nepali side as of Wednesday evening, with three further deaths reported in Tibet. Nepal's Tourism Board listed 384 tourists and travellers unaccounted for in a preliminary count, comprising 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepalis, compiled from information supplied by ten tour operators.

Villages, roads, bridges and hydropower installations were destroyed across Rasuwa and the neighbouring Nuwakot and Dhading districts.

Consular information

Wisma Putra has advised Malaysians in or travelling through Nepal, particularly near affected areas, to remain vigilant, prioritise personal safety and comply with instructions from local authorities. It has urged Malaysians to register and update their contact details through the e-Konsular portal.

The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu can be reached on +977 1544 5680 and +977 1544 5681.