Humanitarian crisis in Nepal: Number of missing rises to 1,924 after devastating floods
The situation in Nepal is becoming increasingly critical following the devastating floods that have struck the country. Local authorities have confirmed a drastic increase in the number of missing persons, raising the official count to 1,924 individuals after the overflowing of the Bhote Koshi River.
This new toll, provided by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, reflects the magnitude of the disaster, especially after the inclusion in the statistics of more than 900 hydroelectric project workers who were caught by the rising waters.
Impact on the population and foreign tourists
The impact of the catastrophe spans various sectors, affecting not only the local population but also security personnel, customs workers, and a large number of international tourists. According to the official report, among the missing are:
- 933 hydroelectric power plant employees.
- 622 foreign tourists and Nepalese residents abroad.
- More than a hundred security personnel and customs staff.
Regarding the international community, authorities have identified citizens from various nations among those not located, including individuals from India, the United States, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Regarding Spanish citizens, the Nepal Tourism Board confirmed that two remain out of contact, while one has been rescued alive.
Security forces and the Tourist Police have managed to evacuate 121 foreign visitors in the affected areas so far, while search efforts intensify in riverbeds and riverbanks.
Rescue efforts and identification process
To date, emergency teams have managed to recover 571 bodies. The identification work has been centralized in Pokhara, where the remains found in districts such as Tanahun, Gorkha, and Dhading have been transported. At this point, the pain is palpable as dozens of families try to recognize their loved ones through photographs displayed on public walls and screens set up by the authorities.
Rescue teams continue to work hard in complex conditions to comb through the affected areas and try to locate the missing, in what is already considered one of the most severe natural tragedies of recent years for the Nepalese nation.
