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Nepal flood leaves hundreds missing, testing limits of travel cover
Tourism officials say 384 travelers are missing, highlighting whether policies include non-medical evacuation coverage, which can cost $3,000 to $10,000 by helicopter in Nepal.
A flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border has killed at least 17 people and left nearly 400 travelers missing, as rescue teams struggle to reach the worst-hit areas and verify what triggered the disaster, Insurance Business reports. The Bhote Koshi River surged through Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts north of Kathmandu around 8:30am local time, sweeping away bridges, multi-storey buildings, and parts of road.
Nepal's foreign minister told parliament that preliminary information points to a morning earthquake triggering an avalanche, which blocked the river and sent a torrent downstream, while river levels remained too high for helicopters to land in places such as Syapru Besi and Timure, according to Insurance Business. Chinese state media also reported major casualties from a mudslide in Tibet's Gyirong county, and President Xi Jinping ordered cross-border search and rescue efforts.
The Nepal Tourism Board identified 384 travelers missing based on preliminary records from 10 tour and travel agencies. Insurance Business said 291 are foreign nationals, including multiple Indian, Malaysian, British, South African, American, Australian, and Dutch travelers, while 111 nationalities are not yet confirmed, putting attention on what travel insurance covers in natural-disaster scenarios.
With Nepal's trekking and tour operators requiring proof of travel insurance before booking, Insurance Business notes that the key issue for affected travelers is whether their policy includes non-medical evacuation cover. It adds that standard policies typically cover emergency medical evacuation to the nearest adequate facility, while non-medical evacuations tied to natural disasters are often available only under specialist adventure travel policies, and helicopter evacuations in Nepal can cost between $3,000 and $10,000.