Nepal is facing a devastating natural disaster, with the death toll from the ongoing floods rising sharply. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has confirmed that 734 people have died, while around 2,498 others remain missing.
According to an update released Sunday morning, rescue teams have recovered 734 bodies and human remains from flood-affected areas. The flooding of the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers has caused extensive damage across several districts, and authorities fear the death toll could rise further.
Rescue Efforts Face Major Challenges
Search and rescue operations are continuing for those still missing. However, damaged roads, destroyed infrastructure and difficult mountainous terrain are making it extremely challenging for rescue teams to reach many affected areas.
Rescue workers and volunteers are also working to deliver food, medical assistance and other emergency supplies to communities hit by the disaster.
The scale of the destruction has led authorities to describe the disaster as one of the most severe natural catastrophes Nepal has faced in recent years. Government agencies and local administrations are coordinating relief and rescue efforts.
Hundreds of Foreign Nationals Missing
The Nepal Tourism Board said 261 foreign nationals have been rescued so far. However, authorities have been unable to establish the whereabouts of another 320 foreign citizens.
Among those rescued are 167 Indian nationals, 40 Chinese nationals, eight Ukrainians, four Germans, four Maltese nationals and three Americans.
The rescued group also includes citizens of Italy, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey, with two nationals from each country. One citizen each from Belgium, Bulgaria, Oman and Portugal has also been rescued, while 21 people are listed as either from other countries or yet to be identified.
With rescue operations still underway in several remote areas, authorities warn that both the number of casualties and the number of missing people could change as teams gain access to previously unreachable locations.
