The U.S. State Department on Sunday advised Americans to avoid travel to specific regions of Nepal devastated by last week's flash floods, which have killed hundreds and left dozens of U.S. citizens unaccounted for. The warning covers the Rasuwagadhi-Timure-Syafrubesi corridor in Rasuwa district, including the primary Nepal-China border crossing, citing flood damage, disrupted transportation and communications, and ongoing search-and-rescue operations.
The department also highlighted the continued risk of additional flooding and landslides in the area. The U.S. Embassy in Nepal, in a Monday post on X, noted that affected communities stretch along the Bhotekoshi, Trishuli, and Narayani rivers. The embassy urged travelers to "stay away from riverbanks, low-lying areas, damaged bridges, and unstable slopes," and to heed evacuation orders from Nepali authorities. It also warned against entering the disaster zone independently to search for missing persons, stating, "Do not travel to the disaster area for any reason."
The catastrophic flooding, triggered by a glacial collapse near the China-Nepal border, has claimed more than 800 lives across both countries, with over 3,000 people still missing, according to local officials. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the event as seismically equivalent to a 5.2-magnitude earthquake.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that approximately 85 Americans remain unaccounted for, while nine have been safely evacuated. "We're currently unaware of any U.S. citizen deaths at this time," Pigott said, adding that the department has surged assistance to its embassies in Nepal and China in response to the disaster.
In a related development, the State Department has activated $3.6 million in emergency humanitarian assistance, which includes up to three months of emergency food for as many as 10,000 flood-affected households, Pigott confirmed.
The U.S. Embassy in Nepal also cautioned that the country's medical infrastructure has "limited ability" to handle regular and emergency care. "Hospitals in Kathmandu are usually better than in other areas, but they can be crowded, may lack some equipment or medicines, and often ask that you pay before treatment," the embassy said, urging travelers to bring necessary medications and secure travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation.
This travel advisory comes amid pre-existing concerns about civil unrest in Nepal. Prior to the floods, the Trump administration had advised Americans to exercise increased caution due to nationwide anti-corruption demonstrations that began in September 2025. While those large-scale protests have subsided, the State Department noted that demonstrations and local unrest "can still happen, particularly in cities."
The situation remains fluid, and the State Department continues to monitor the safety of U.S. citizens in the region. For the latest updates on the missing Americans, see our earlier coverage on the missing Americans. The administration's response has also drawn attention amid broader foreign policy debates, including controversies over oil deals and other international engagements.
