The death toll from flash floods triggered by a massive collapse of mud and rocks into a river near Nepal’s Himalayan border with China’s Tibet has risen to 162, while hundreds of people remain missing and rescue teams are using helicopters to continue search operations.
The disaster struck northern parts of Nepal, a region frequented by large numbers of trekkers and pilgrims, sending torrents of mud, rocks and water through towns and valleys.
According to Nepalese tourism authorities, more than 400 foreign nationals are among the 579 tourists reported missing.
Among the missing are 47 U.S. citizens, 34 Australians, 33 Britons and 24 Canadians, Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for Nepal’s tourism board, said.
Police have warned that the death toll could rise further as search and rescue operations have resumed.
“The toll will go up, as we have resumed the search and more bodies are expected to be recovered,” Nepal police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle told Reuters.
Meanwhile, China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that 558 people were missing in the mudslide disaster in Gyirong County in Tibet, including 260 foreign nationals.
It was not immediately clear whether there was an overlap between the missing-person figures reported by Nepal and China.
Verified video footage showed huge torrents of water, mud and debris sweeping through the Gyirong border crossing, carrying away numerous people. Homes, roads and power projects downstream in Nepal were also damaged or destroyed.
Keshav Prasad Baral, a 68-year-old survivor, said the mud and floodwaters rushed into his home as he tried to pull his wife to safety on the roof, but she was swept away.
Baral was rescued by helicopter four hours later, but his wife remains missing beneath the mud.
Another survivor reportedly escaped by clinging to a mango tree as he watched the house where he had been working disappear beneath the floodwaters.
Ref: Reuters
