Canadian found safe after Nepal flooding
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says one of the 30 Canadian citizens and permanent residents who went missing after catastrophic flooding hit Nepal's border region with China has been found safe.
The flooding struck a remote border area, cutting off communication with a group of Canadians who were reported missing in the aftermath. Anand's office had been coordinating with local authorities and Canadian officials on the ground to try to locate everyone affected.
What Anand said
Anand confirmed the update publicly, saying the person had been found safe, but she did not immediately provide details on the condition or whereabouts of the remaining Canadians still unaccounted for. Global Affairs Canada continues to work through consular channels to reach the rest of the group and confirm their safety.
Why this matters for Canadians abroad
Incidents like this are a reminder of how quickly natural disasters can strand travelers far from help. Nepal's mountainous border regions are popular with trekkers and adventure travelers, including Canadians, but they're also prone to landslides and flash flooding, especially during monsoon season, when infrastructure and communication networks can be knocked out for days.
Global Affairs Canada typically activates its emergency response teams in situations like this, working with local embassies, Nepalese authorities, and on-the-ground contacts to track down citizens who may be out of contact rather than actually in danger. Being unreachable due to downed cell towers or blocked roads is common in the immediate aftermath of flooding in remote areas, which is often why initial missing counts include people who are ultimately found safe and simply unable to communicate.
What's next
Anand's office says efforts are ongoing to locate and confirm the safety of the remaining Canadians connected to the region. The federal government has not released additional details on the identities of those involved, citing privacy considerations, and it's expected that updates will continue as consular officials get further information from the affected area.
For Canadians currently travelling or living abroad, the situation is a reminder to register with Global Affairs Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad service, which helps the government reach citizens quickly during emergencies like natural disasters or political unrest.
Source: CBC News
