A Georgia mother, Mary Sorenson, 60, went missing after floods struck the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday. Sorenson had traveled to the region for a spiritual pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, where she practiced yoga, prayed, and meditated with a group, according to her son, Riley Wildeman.
Sorenson completed her pilgrimage before the floods occurred, which have resulted in over 900 fatalities. Her family last heard from her as she was descending the mountain to return to Atlanta. Wildeman stated that her last message, sent Tuesday morning, expressed her gratitude for her family.
The floods hit the region on Wednesday morning, shortly after Sorenson's last contact. Nepal’s disaster agency reported that rescue teams are searching for over 4,700 missing individuals, including 592 foreigners, among them at least 85 Americans.
Other missing individuals include Long Island residents Amita Amin, 67, and Jitendra Manubhai Patel, 63, as well as New Jersey resident Tejal Vyomesh Patel, 64, who were also on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
Wildeman, a public school teacher, shared that his family learned about the severity of the floods through news coverage and social media after being initially informed by the trip organizer. They have contacted the US State Department and relevant government agencies in Nepal and China in hopes of locating Sorenson.
Wildeman expressed the emotional toll on the family, stating, "We feel so much heartbreak and so much sadness and pain, like a deep, guttural pain." He noted that they remain hopeful for a miracle despite the circumstances.