KATHMANDU/BEIJING: Catastrophic flash floods in the border region of Nepal and China have killed at least 472 people and left more than 1,500 others missing, according to figures reported Friday as rescue operations continued.
The disaster, which struck on Wednesday, has affected local communities as well as hundreds of foreign nationals who were in the region for work, guided treks and pilgrimages to sacred sites.
Thousands of people have been rescued, while some injured survivors have been transported to hospitals in Kathmandu and surrounding districts. Authorities have cautioned that casualty and missing-person figures may continue to change as rescue teams reach affected areas and agencies verify their data.
Nepal
Nepal’s disaster management authorities reported that the death toll had risen to 469, with 977 people still missing.
Authorities said 3,253 people had been rescued by helicopter, while more than 150 injured people were taken to hospitals in Kathmandu and the districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.
Local reports citing Nepal’s National Emergency Operation Center said those reported missing included 113 Nepali tourists, 85 army and police personnel, 161 residents of Rasuwa district and one person from Nuwakot.
China
In Gyirong County, Tibet, Chinese state media reported at least three deaths and 558 missing people.
According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, 260 of those reported missing were foreigners. China’s Foreign Ministry also said nearly 100 Chinese citizens were missing on the Nepalese side of the border.
India
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said 288 Indian nationals remained uncontactable, including 73 people working on a power project in the affected region.
Nepalese officials have also reported that a significant number of Indian nationals were visiting the region as pilgrims travelling toward Mount Kailash in Tibet, a major sacred site for Hindus.
Rescue Operations Continue
Rescue teams from Nepal and China, supported by helicopters and emergency personnel, continue to search for survivors and locate missing people.
The scale of the disaster, difficult mountainous terrain and disrupted communications have complicated rescue and verification efforts. Authorities are expected to issue updated casualty figures as search operations progress.
The disaster has once again highlighted the vulnerability of communities and travellers in the mountainous Himalayan border region to sudden flash floods, landslides and extreme weather events.
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