Spanish Tourist Found Dead in Kaski, Another Still Missing

One of the two Spanish nationals who went missing on Sunday while trekking in the Annapurna region has been found dead. The body of 37-year-old Eric Casanova was discovered today, while the search for 32-year-old Molas Junka Mesi is ongoing.

According to Bharatman Gurung, spokesperson for Annapurna Rural Municipality, Casanova’s body was found lodged between rocks in the middle of the Bhurungdi River, approximately one kilometer downstream from Mauzakhola, where his bag had been located earlier.

The two tourists were trekking to Ghorepani via Ulleri and had registered their details at the Birethanti check post of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) on August 25. Later that evening, their bags were found abandoned on the road, raising concerns about their safety.

A team comprising armed police, Nepal Police, local representatives, tourism professionals, and residents has been conducting search operations since this morning. It is suspected that the tourists may have fallen into the river while taking photos near a waterfall on the Bhurungdi River, as their walking sticks were found near the waterfall.

Yam Bahadur Gurung, in charge of the ACAP Birethanti Checkpost, confirmed that the search for the missing woman will continue on Wednesday. The relevant authorities have informed the Spanish Embassy about the incident.