Nepal authorities raised on Saturday to 669 the number of dead from the devastating floods that hit the Bhote Koshi basin this week, while emergency teams continue searching for thousands of missing people.
Read more Iranian President admits complications due to US sanctions and blockades
Added to the dead in Nepal are seven deaths reported by China in the Tibetan county of Gyirong.
In total, almost 3,000 people remain missing between Nepal and Tibet, although the authorities of both countries handle separate counts and it is not clear to what extent the figures may overlap. In a previous report, China had reported 554 missing in its territory.
The largest number of bodies recovered in Nepal is concentrated in the districts of Chitwan, with 248 dead, and East Nawalparasi, with 158, where the current dragged victims, debris, and material from the mountainous areas.
The emergency began on Wednesday and left homes, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure destroyed. Damaged roads, power outages, and the risk of new events have complicated rescue teams’ access to the hardest-hit communities.
The disaster has also affected hundreds of foreigners who were in the region. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, 184 tourists have been rescued alive and another 420 remain missing. Among the people evacuated during this Saturday are two Spanish citizens.
A previous count by Nepalese authorities had tallied 2,426 missing in Nepal alone, 517 of them foreigners, in addition to members of the security forces, Customs, and Immigration officials. That same report estimated 4,451 people rescued and indicated that about 15,000 personnel were participating in the operations.
Read more Armed attack on strategic centers in Niamey keeps security forces on alert in Niger
Aerial operations have been especially relevant to reach isolated communities. After a temporary suspension due to bad weather conditions, helicopters resumed flights in the Nuwakot district, transporting humanitarian aid and evacuating survivors.
Nepalese authorities also requested international assistance in forensic matters and corpse preservation, as well as technical equipment to try to access flooded tunnels of hydroelectric plants where workers are feared trapped.
On the other hand, the recovery of hundreds of bodies has begun to overwhelm the capacity of some areas.
In East Nawalparasi, authorities began a massive DNA sampling before burying bodies that could not be identified due to their state of deterioration.
Dozens of bodies recovered along the Trishuli and Narayani rivers were also transferred to Pokhara for identification. Families have gathered in front of the morgue of the Western Regional Hospital awaiting news about their missing relatives.
Nepal’s Finance Minister, Swarnim Wagle, estimated that the country could need between US$4 billion and US$5 billion for its reconstruction.
Read more Ukraine attacks warehouses in the Russian region of Rostov: four people were hospitalized
