The death toll from the catastrophic floods and landslides in Nepal has continued to rise, while hundreds remain missing on the Tibetan side of the border. Chinese authorities say 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries are unaccounted for, including one Hungarian.
One Hungarian listed among missing foreigners
Authorities in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region are searching for 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries following the devastating landslide and flash floods near the Nepal–China border, according to the regional governor.
One Hungarian citizen is among those reported missing on the Tibetan side of the border. Chinese authorities have informed the embassies and consulates of the countries concerned.
The missing foreign nationals include 104 Nepali, 49 Indian, 33 Latvian, 18 American and 15 British citizens, alongside people from several other countries. The list also includes six Australians, six Canadians, three Germans, three Russians and one Hungarian.
The latest figures from Chinese authorities say 16 people have died and 546 remain missing in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The situation on the Nepali side is even more devastating. As of Sunday morning, at least 734 people had died and around 2,498 were still missing, according to official figures, Reuters reported.
Three Hungarians were previously reported missing
The latest Chinese figures come after Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously confirmed that three Hungarian citizens were believed to have been at the disaster site and had been reported missing.
The three were reportedly travelling with a pilgrimage group. Among them were a mother and her daughter, who arrived in Nepal just two hours before the flash flood struck on Wednesday morning. The Foreign Ministry said their whereabouts were unknown.
The disaster struck northeastern Nepal near the Tibetan border after a massive glacier-related collapse sent water, ice, mud and rock debris downstream. The resulting floods and landslides destroyed roads and bridges and severely damaged local infrastructure, making communication with people trapped in the affected areas extremely difficult.
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Search operations hampered by bad weather
Rescue efforts have continued, although poor weather has repeatedly disrupted operations. Nepal’s army said helicopter missions were temporarily suspended because of weather conditions, while search and rescue work continued on the ground. In Nuwakot district, helicopters have been delivering relief supplies and evacuating survivors from flood-hit areas, according to 444.hu.
More than 100 people may also be trapped inside a tunnel where large quantities of mud have accumulated. Rescuers have managed to reach some of those trapped, but the operation is extremely difficult: mud is reportedly up to 1.5 metres deep in parts of the tunnel, while there are few suitable landing areas for helicopters nearby. Authorities are also monitoring lakes that have formed near the border, as they are concerned about the possibility of further flooding.
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Climate change blamed for worsening disaster
The catastrophe was triggered by the collapse of a glacier, with huge quantities of water, ice, mud and rock sweeping through settlements and destroying critical infrastructure. UN climate chief Simon Stiell said disasters of this kind are becoming more likely, frequent and severe as a result of humanity’s continued consumption of coal, oil and gas.
Chinese authorities have similarly linked the disaster to glacier instability caused by the long-term effects of global warming.
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Sisir Khanal stressed that the country contributes only around 0.01 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet its population is among those most severely affected by climate change.
The financial consequences are expected to be enormous. Nepal’s Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle told Reuters that preliminary estimates put the cost of rebuilding after the floods at USD 4–5 billion, equivalent to almost 10 per cent of the country’s annual GDP.
Many victims have yet to be identified
The full scale of the disaster is still unclear, with authorities still working to identify victims. DNA testing is required in some cases. Of the 49 bodies taken to a health facility in Kathmandu, only seven had been identified by Saturday. Relatives have been looking at photographs released by the facility in the hope of identifying missing family members.
Nepal has said it does not require foreign rescue teams, but has requested targeted international technical assistance to rescue people trapped in tunnels, restore transport and telecommunications links, and help identify victims. With thousands still missing on the Nepali side and hundreds unaccounted for across the border in Tibet, the final human toll of the disaster could rise further.
