More than 380 tourists are missing following devastating flooding in Nepal. A river burst its banks and swept away several villages, whilst large-scale landslides have damaged houses, roads and power lines. Search and rescue operations are being hampered by flooding and damaged infrastructure; the police and military have been deployed to assist with the operation.
Briefly about the main points
- More than 380 tourists and travellers have gone missing.
- The Nepal Tourism Board reported that 384 people were unaccounted for.
- Among them were 291 foreign nationals; some were on their way to Kailash.
- Flooding and damage to roads are hampering the evacuation.
- The Nepalese government has asked India and China to assist the rescue teams.
Who are they looking for in the disaster zone?
According to the Nepal Tourism Board, contact has been lost with 384 tourists and travellers, including 291 foreigners. Some of the groups were believed to be following the pilgrimage route to Mount Kailash in Tibet.
The loss of contact may be due to damage to roads and communications networks. In the S’yaprubesi and Timur areas, helicopters were unable to land until the water receded.
Rescue operations and the aftermath of the natural disaster
The floods caused significant damage, whilst landslides disrupted transport and electricity networks. According to the Nepalese Ministry of Energy, damage to hydropower facilities has disrupted the supply of 430 MW of electricity.
The Nepalese authorities have deployed the police and military to the operation and have appealed to India and China for assistance. The cause of the flood is still being investigated: ICIMOD has tentatively suggested that the flood may have been caused by a glacial rock avalanche. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
