Hundreds of workers remain missing after devastating floods in Nepal

12:12

By: Azzat Manal

Hundreds of workers remain missing after devastating floods in Nepal

Nepal is facing a major humanitarian emergency after catastrophic floods and landslides struck several areas near the Chinese border, leaving hundreds of workers from hydropower facilities unaccounted for and thousands of people missing across the country.

According to Nepal's Independent Power Producers' Association, at least 934 people working at hydropower projects have not yet been located. The figure forms part of a broader national toll of around 2,500 missing people, including approximately 600 foreign nationals from 36 countries.

The disaster has triggered large-scale search and rescue operations involving Nepal's armed forces, emergency services and volunteers. Rescue teams are working in difficult conditions as they attempt to reach isolated areas and locate people who may have been trapped by rapidly rising waters, landslides and debris.

The floods reportedly followed the partial collapse of a glacier in a mountainous area, sending huge quantities of water and debris into the Bhote Koshi River. The resulting flash floods caused extensive destruction across several districts of Nepal and also affected areas of China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Among those still missing are foreign nationals, including Russian citizens. Russia's embassy has asked relatives of missing nationals to submit requests for assistance in locating them. At least seven Russians are reportedly missing, while two others have been rescued.

The scale of the disaster has complicated rescue efforts, particularly in remote mountainous regions where damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure have made access difficult. Search teams have continued their operations despite the challenging terrain and the risk of further landslides.

The official death toll has risen to 626, while authorities continue to search for hundreds of missing people. Officials have warned that the number of victims could change as rescue teams gain access to areas that remain difficult to reach.

The disaster is also expected to have a substantial economic impact. Nepal's Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said the country could require between $4 billion and $5 billion to rebuild damaged infrastructure and recover from the floods and landslides. He stressed that the estimate remains provisional because authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage.

The catastrophe has highlighted Nepal's vulnerability to sudden flooding and other hazards in its mountainous regions. As rescue operations continue, authorities are focusing on locating missing people, assisting survivors and assessing the damage before beginning the longer process of reconstruction.