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The death toll from the devastating flash floods and landslides in Nepal has risen to 538. It is estimated that over 977 people are still missing.
Rescue and search operations continue in the country following severe floods in the Himalayan border areas on Wednesday (August 26).
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) stated that search operations for the missing are underway in the affected areas, alongside rescue efforts. Authorities reported that 517 of the missing individuals are foreign nationals.
Previously, Nepal Police had reported 489 deaths due to the floods. The death toll has increased as rescue operations progressed.
Meanwhile, at least 121 foreign nationals have been rescued in Nepal following the devastating floods. The Nepal Tourism Board reported that among the rescued foreigners, 85 are Indian, 16 are Chinese, and 9 are South Korean citizens. The nationalities of three others are yet to be confirmed.
Rasuwa district, the most affected by the floods, remains virtually cut off. Nepal’s Minister of Information and Communications, Bikram Timilsina, stated that it has not been possible to reach the remote area by land. The true extent of the damage is still not fully known.
He added that helicopters are being used as the only effective means to reach Rasuwa and rescue people. Due to its inaccessibility, it will take more time to get a complete estimate of the damage.
Local officials reported that a glacier collapse triggered a massive surge of water. This torrent instantly swept away homes, roads, and various infrastructures. A crucial land route on the Nepal-Tibet border has also been severely damaged.
The Chinese Embassy in Nepal stated that current rescue and emergency efforts are at a ‘critical stage.’ The situation has become riskier due to fresh overflows of water. Authorities from Nepal and China are monitoring the situation and working to mitigate risks.
Meanwhile, relatives of the missing foreign nationals are also appealing to local authorities for information about their loved ones. The brother of a missing UK citizen has pleaded with local officials to find his sister.
The communication breakdown in the remote border regions due to this horrific disaster has made the situation even more challenging for rescuers. However, rescuers remain hopeful that some of the missing may still be found alive.
Source: BBC