Manila: UN teams and humanitarian partners are mobilizing supplies and personnel to assist communities affected by severe flooding in Nepal, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday. "I am saddened by the severe flooding in Nepal and China, which has claimed many lives, left people missing, and caused widespread destruction," Guterres said on the US social media platform X. Guterres extended his condolences to the victims' families and wished those injured a speedy recovery. "In Nepal, the @UN is supporting the Government-led response. UN teams and humanitarian partners are mobilizing supplies and personnel to support communities affected by the floods," he added.
According to Philippines News Agency, the catastrophe has killed at least 160 people and left more than 680 missing. Floods destroyed 13 hydropower projects along with 25 miles (40 kilometers) of roads, according to Nepalese government estimates. Some 200 trucks and 19 bridges were also swept away by surges of water and mud.
The Nepal Tourism Board reported that 644 foreign and local tourists are missing on the Nepalese side of the border. They include 178 from India, 65 from the US, 53 from Ukraine, 51 from Malaysia, 35 from Australia, 33 from the UK, 25 from Canada, nine from Singapore, and eight from Germany. Other missing tourists are from France, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Russia, and other countries. An additional 127 Nepalese tourists are also unaccounted for, the board said.
China's Foreign Ministry stated that 100 Chinese nationals were missing on the Nepalese side of the border due to the flash floods. Ministry spokesman Lin Jian mentioned that 260 foreign nationals remained unaccounted for in Tibet, which Beijing identifies as the Xizang Autonomous Region. Figures provided by the Nepalese government did not include the missing Chinese nationals.
The floods were likely triggered by a large chunk of ice breaking off a Himalayan glacier about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) northeast of the Rasuwa-Rasuwagadhi border crossing, according to satellite imagery. Nepalese authorities confirmed 177 deaths and recorded 826 people missing. Chinese authorities said three people were killed and 558 remained missing, including foreign nationals.
