Twenty-seven members of the US Congress have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deploy additional resources for search-and-rescue operations and humanitarian assistance following the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal.

In a letter dated September 4, the lawmakers said the United States should use “every available resource” to support ongoing rescue efforts and ensure the safety and recovery of American citizens and others affected by the disaster.

The lawmakers said the August 26 glacial collapse and landslide in the Himalayas triggered flash floods that sent water, mud and debris down the Trishuli and Bhotekoshi river corridors, devastating communities in Nepal and Gyirong County on the Chinese side of the border.

Citing the situation as of September 4, they said the disaster had killed more than 1,300 people and left at least 4,000 missing, including at least 75 US citizens.

The lawmakers welcomed the US government’s initial assistance, including $500,000 provided through Catholic Relief Services for emergency shelter, relief items, water, sanitation and hygiene assistance, as well as $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance announced on August 29.

But they said the scale of the disaster required Washington to do much more.

They made five specific requests to the State Department.

First, they asked the department to provide daily updates to families of missing Americans and to Congress as search-and-rescue operations continue. They also called for adequately staffed consular hotlines and repatriation assistance for US citizens and their families.

Second, they urged the deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to flood-affected communities in Nepal. Such teams can support search and rescue, logistics and medical services and coordinate disaster-response efforts with local authorities and other organisations.

Third, the lawmakers called for coordination with US interagency agencies and the private sector to deploy high-altitude assets and thermal/infrared drones to search for missing people and provide aerial imagery. They specifically urged cooperation with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and US defence agencies, as well as commercial satellite companies.

They also asked the State Department to explore the use of phone-location data to help locate missing individuals.

Fourth, they urged Washington to engage Nepali and Chinese disaster authorities and international partners to ensure comprehensive coverage and access across search areas. They said diplomatic outreach to Nepal, China and donor countries would be important for coordinating rescue operations and providing information to families of missing Americans.

Fifth, the lawmakers called for faster delivery of disaster assistance and additional reconstruction support for Nepal.

The letter said Nepal would need substantial long-term assistance to rebuild communities and infrastructure damaged by the disaster. It cited an estimate by Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle that reconstruction could cost between $4 billion and $5 billion.

“The videos of the catastrophic floods in Nepal have shocked the world, and the horrors faced by the victims and their families continue day in and day out,” the lawmakers said, urging the State Department to take a leading role in search and rescue, locate missing Americans and help rebuild communities devastated by the disaster.

The appeal comes as international search-and-rescue and relief operations continue in Nepal. On Friday, rescuers pulled two workers alive from a hydropower tunnel in the Trishuli River corridor, nine days after the disaster, renewing hopes that others trapped in underground structures could still be rescued.

Nepal's disaster authorities have estimated property, housing and infrastructure losses from the floods at around Rs 387.5 billion ($2.56 billion), while thousands of people remain missing.