A Hungarian national is being sought after flash floods in Nepal, the Foreign Ministry told the Hungarian news agency MTI on Wednesday.
A Hungarian pilgrim was in the area hit by the flash floods, and efforts to establish their identity and whereabouts are still under way, the ministry said. According to Nepal’s tourism authority, at least 384 tourists – including 291 foreign nationals – have been reported missing.
Nepal’s honorary consul said that a Hungarian pilgrim had been in the affected area. Consular officials are monitoring developments closely and remain in contact with the local authorities, the Foreign Ministry said.
Flash floods swept through several villages in north-eastern Nepal on Wednesday. Authorities said the disaster had claimed more than 50 lives and damaged roads, bridges and energy infrastructure in areas close to Tibet.
Death toll in Nepal-China border flash floods climbs to 97, dozens missing
The death toll from a devastating flash flood on the Nepal-China border climbed to 97 as at least 384 tourists and travelers, as well as soldiers and police, were reported missing Wednesday in Nepal after flash floods and mudslides near the Chinese border, according to officials, Anadolu wrote.
Shailendra Thapa, a spokesperson for the Armed Police, said rescuers have recovered 97 dead bodies while 54 people were rescued from the flood-affected area. Earlier, briefing parliament on the disaster, Nepalese Foreign Minister Sishir Khanal said officials, soldiers and police were among the missing after flash floods swept away their barracks. The Nepal Tourism Board said separately that it recorded 384 missing people.
Authorities “are working to verify the whereabouts and safety status of the tourists and travelers who were in or traveling through the affected areas,” said the board. Khanal said 29 police officers and 44 soldiers were also missing after the floods swept away their barracks in Rasuwa district.
At least 19 bridges have been swept away, and 40 kilometers (25 miles) of road were damaged, along with 13 hydropower projects, according to government estimates. About 200 trucks were also swept away. Khanal said an earthquake struck the border area Wednesday, triggering an avalanche that “eventually caused the collapse of glacial lakes in the Tibet region of China.”
Beijing identifies the region as the Xizang Autonomous Region. “Due to the flood, a large number of hydropower projects, government offices and road facilities were erased,” said Khanal. A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Kodari village in Nepal, which borders Tibet in China, at 8.37 am local time (0252GMT), according to the US Geological Survey.
Hungarian firefighters and vehicles sent to Serbia to aid the battle against forest fires
Massive search and rescue operations were launched on both sides of the border. Those reported missing include people from Nepal, India, the UK, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands, while the nationalities of many others have yet to be confirmed.
Eight South Korean nationals were “unaccounted for,” while 10 others were stranded following the floods in Nepal, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported, citing the South Korean Foreign Ministry. Khanal said the floods caused widespread destruction in the Rasuwa, Dhading and Chitwan districts.
Have you read this one? Baptist Charity rescue team returns from Nepal with Hungarian baby
