Nepal Flooding: 30 Jewish Travelers Missing After Disaster

Approximately 30 Jewish travelers are listed as missing or out of contact following catastrophic flash floods that struck Nepal in recent days, according to Rabbi Chezky and Chani Lifshitz, veteran Chabad emissaries in the country.

"We are in constant communication with families, local communities, and people on the ground, trying to piece together every detail," Chani Lifshitz told Chabad.org. "We're examining every report closely, every name, every landmark, every possible lead."

She described the intensity of the effort: "For several nights this week we barely slept. While Chezky was on the phone nonstop with families and organizations around the world, one thought kept running through my mind: how critical it is to ensure that every Jewish person receives a proper Jewish burial, and how nearly impossible that task has become under the difficult conditions on the ground."

The disaster occurred on the morning of August 26 along the Nepal-China border, when a massive glacier suddenly collapsed, triggering an avalanche of snow and rock that blocked a river near the Tibetan frontier. When the natural dam gave way under pressure, a torrent of water, mud, and boulders swept through the region with unprecedented force. According to local reports, more than 1,000 people have already lost their lives, and over 4,400 remain missing.

The surge destroyed entire villages, swept away dozens of suspension bridges, severed major access roads connecting the capital Kathmandu to the northern border, and severely damaged regional hydroelectric projects. The widespread destruction of infrastructure has led to an almost complete communications blackout and paralyzed access routes, greatly hampering local rescue operations.

In response to the crisis, Rabbi Chezky and Chani Lifshitz immediately redirected all their resources from complex logistical preparations for Rosh Hashanah hospitality to managing an emergency command center for rescue, location, and aid. The emissaries, who have years of experience assisting Israeli backpackers during emergencies and previous natural disasters in the region, are in continuous coordination with government officials, rescue teams on the ground, and Israeli media.

Beyond search efforts, Chabad House in Nepal has begun organizing an independent relief mission that includes food, medicine, and essential emergency supplies, aiming to reach isolated areas as soon as access routes become passable. At the same time, the emissaries are grappling with a particularly complex and sensitive challenge: the fear that Jewish victims could lose their identity in the mass burials being conducted daily by Nepali authorities due to severe difficulties in identifying bodies.

Israel's Foreign Ministry confirmed that an additional Israeli citizen is listed as missing since the disaster. Katrina Sakowitz, 41, who lives in Milan, was last seen on the day of the disaster in the area struck by the massive surge. Her family has contacted the Foreign Ministry requesting assistance in coordinating search operations with Nepali authorities, and her sister is expected to travel to Nepal to participate in the search.

A new report from the HiRISK scientific consortium states that the collapsed glacier showed warning signs days before the disaster. The scientists noted that in retrospect, there were several early indicators, including meltwater that turned brown and signs of an expanding crack. According to the report, more comprehensive early warning systems downstream could have saved a significant number of lives.

Amid the heavy tragedy, extraordinary rescue stories have also emerged. Manisha Magar, a six-year-old girl, was found alive after being trapped under mud for two days. Rescue teams working in the Rasuwa area heard a faint voice beneath a pile of mud, and after about two hours managed to reach the child. She was airlifted by helicopter to Kathmandu, where she received medical treatment and was later reunited with her parents.

The emissaries are making every possible effort to ensure that every Jewish victim receives a proper burial according to Jewish law, while continuing to pray and hope for good news from the disaster's ruins. The death toll continues to rise, currently standing at more than 1,000 people—987 in Nepal and 16 in China.