Six South Africans are now reported missing following the devastating floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, as authorities continue to assess the full scale of the disaster.
The South African tourism authorities had initially listed four citizens as unaccounted for, but the number has since increased to six. The list remains provisional, and officials stressed that being recorded as missing does not mean the individuals have been confirmed dead.
The disaster was triggered on Wednesday when a glacier collapse in Tibet unleashed a destructive surge of water and debris into Nepal's Rasuwa district. Entire communities were devastated, while roads and bridges were swept away, cutting off several areas.
Access to trekking routes around Syabrubesi, a key gateway for pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash, has also been severely affected.
Nepalese police have reported at least 165 deaths, with a further 826 people still missing. Authorities have also recorded hundreds of foreign nationals among those unaccounted for, with the tourism board placing the number at 517.
Gift of the Givers has been placed on standby to assist with possible search and rescue operations. Founder Imtiaz Sooliman said the organisation had been contacted by the daughter of one missing South African couple, while a tour operator had confirmed that another South African couple was also unaccounted for.
Rescue efforts are being severely hampered by the destruction.
Sooliman said aerial surveillance was currently the only practical way of reaching some affected areas, as roads had been destroyed and unstable, waterlogged ground made helicopter landings impossible.
Gift of the Givers has 11 urban search-and-rescue specialists, four SAPS dog handlers and four search dogs ready to deploy if international assistance is formally requested.
The organisation's head of search and rescue, Ahmed Bham, is in contact with disaster management authorities in Nepal, while arrangements have been made for visas to be processed urgently should a deployment be authorised.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media reported at least three deaths and 558 people missing in Gyirong County in Tibet. Of those still unaccounted for, 260 are believed to be foreign nationals.
Search and rescue operations are continuing on both sides of the border as authorities work to establish the whereabouts of hundreds of missing people.
The South African tourism authorities had initially listed four citizens as unaccounted for, but the number has since increased to six. The list remains provisional, and officials stressed that being recorded as missing does not mean the individuals have been confirmed dead.
The disaster was triggered on Wednesday when a glacier collapse in Tibet unleashed a destructive surge of water and debris into Nepal's Rasuwa district. Entire communities were devastated, while roads and bridges were swept away, cutting off several areas.
Access to trekking routes around Syabrubesi, a key gateway for pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash, has also been severely affected.
Nepalese police have reported at least 165 deaths, with a further 826 people still missing. Authorities have also recorded hundreds of foreign nationals among those unaccounted for, with the tourism board placing the number at 517.
Gift of the Givers has been placed on standby to assist with possible search and rescue operations. Founder Imtiaz Sooliman said the organisation had been contacted by the daughter of one missing South African couple, while a tour operator had confirmed that another South African couple was also unaccounted for.
Rescue efforts are being severely hampered by the destruction.
Sooliman said aerial surveillance was currently the only practical way of reaching some affected areas, as roads had been destroyed and unstable, waterlogged ground made helicopter landings impossible.
Gift of the Givers has 11 urban search-and-rescue specialists, four SAPS dog handlers and four search dogs ready to deploy if international assistance is formally requested.
The organisation's head of search and rescue, Ahmed Bham, is in contact with disaster management authorities in Nepal, while arrangements have been made for visas to be processed urgently should a deployment be authorised.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media reported at least three deaths and 558 people missing in Gyirong County in Tibet. Of those still unaccounted for, 260 are believed to be foreign nationals.
Search and rescue operations are continuing on both sides of the border as authorities work to establish the whereabouts of hundreds of missing people.