- Search-and-rescue operations continue along Nepal-China border as authorities warn of further risks from a newly formed natural dam
KATHMANDU: The number of people reported missing following catastrophic flash floods and mudslides along the Nepal-China border has surged to nearly 3,000, while more than 680 people have been confirmed dead, according to local authorities on Saturday.
Search-and-rescue operations have continued since Wednesday’s disaster, with more than 2,420 people reported missing in Nepal and over 550 in China. Rescue teams remain engaged in efforts to locate survivors and assess the extensive damage caused by the floods and landslides.
Authorities have also raised concerns over a natural dam formed near the border during the disaster, warning that a potential rupture could trigger another devastating surge of water and further endanger communities in the affected areas.
A Japanese family of five from Osaka Prefecture, all with the surname Yamamoto, is also reported missing. The family, comprising a couple in their 40s and their three minor children, had entered Nepal from the Chinese side, according to Japanese government sources and Nepalese tourism authorities.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) estimates that approximately 93,000 people have been affected by the disaster and are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, children who became separated from their families have been taking shelter in evacuation centres, according to The Associated Press. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that around 17,000 children are currently in need of humanitarian aid.
As rescue operations continue, authorities and humanitarian organisations are working to provide emergency shelter, food, medical assistance and other essential support to communities affected by one of the region’s most severe recent natural disasters.
BY: The Times Union
