At least 95 people have been killed, and more than 380 others are missing after powerful flash floods swept through northern Nepal near the border with China.
Axar.az reports, citing CBS News, that Nepal’s Tourism Board said 341 foreign nationals were among those reported missing, including three US citizens, 12 Britons, 142 Indians, 17 Malaysians, eight South Koreans, four South Africans, one Australian and one Dutch national.
According to the police, so far 95 deaths have been reported, and nearly 30 police officers were also missing.
The flooding began Wednesday morning after a sudden surge in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district and spread to neighboring Nuwakot and Dhading districts.
The floods destroyed or damaged homes, roads, bridges and power facilities.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said the disaster was caused by an earthquake that triggered a large landslide, blocking the Bhote Koshi River.
Nepal Police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said: “We do not exactly know the extent of damage, but the flood is big, and it could have damaged many settlements. We have alerted people who are staying near the riverside to relocate ... and deployed all our resources.”
Prime Minister Balen Shah said: “Work has started to take necessary steps in coordination with the medical team, scouts, and Red Cross.”
Rescue operations have been hampered by the mountainous terrain, with helicopters unable to land in some of the worst-hit areas.