KATHMANDU: The death toll from devastating floods in Nepal has risen to 362, while hundreds of people remain missing as rescue teams continue operations in affected areas.
The flooding occurred in Nepal’s Rasuwā district, where a sudden surge swept through the area a day earlier. More than 500 tourists are still reported missing, according to the provided report.
Nepalese tourism authorities said more than 400 foreign nationals are among those missing. They include 142 Indian, 54 American, 34 Australian, 33 British, 24 Canadian, 17 Malaysian and 53 Ukrainian citizens.
Several people from South Korea, South Africa, Portugal and the Netherlands are also reported missing, with search efforts continuing.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media reported that 558 people were missing after landslides in Gyirong in Tibet, including 260 foreign nationals. Three people were also reported dead in the incidents.
Floods and landslides have caused extensive damage to homes, roads and power infrastructure in the border region, according to Chinese media reports.
Rescue and recovery operations remain underway as authorities continue searching for missing people and assessing the scale of the damage.
More heading, Rescuers race against time as Nepal floods leave hundreds missing
Earlier, a wall of mud, rock and water tore through communities along the Nepal-China border, killing at least 165 people and leaving nearly 1,400 reported missing as rescuers raced Thursday to reach survivors across the devastated Himalayan region.
The disaster swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa district and Tibet’s Gyirong county, destroying homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure and leaving hundreds of tourists and pilgrims unaccounted for.
Rescue teams deployed helicopters, drones, soldiers and police to search riverbanks and isolated communities, while aircraft delivered food, tents and other emergency supplies to areas cut off by the destruction. More than 5,000 Nepal Army and police personnel were mobilized as high water, damaged roads and thick mud complicated the rescue effort.
