▲ Massive Flooding in Nepal
A massive flood struck the Himalayan mountainous region in north-central Nepal, near the Chinese border, leaving 100 people dead and about 480 others, including some 390 foreigners, missing.
Nine South Koreans have lost contact in the area, while another 10 South Koreans who were briefly isolated have been confirmed to be safe.
While the exact cause remains unclear, the possibility has been raised that glaciers collapsed due to an earthquake that occurred shortly before in China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
According to Reuters, AP, and EFE news agencies on the 26th (local time), a massive flood struck the Bagmati Province in north-central Nepal at 8:40 a.m. that day.
Nepali police and the Prime Minister's Office stated that the disaster killed 100 people and left 484 missing, including 391 foreigners and 93 Nepalis.
They added that among the missing foreigners are 134 Indian nationals who were on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred Hindu site.
Sunil Sharma, a spokesperson for the Nepal Tourism Board, explained that the missing include 47 U.S. citizens, 34 Australians, 33 Britons, and 24 Canadians.
The missing also include 62 Nepalis and 28 local police officers who were trekking near a lake in the Rasuwa district of Bagmati Province.
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that nine South Korean employees working for Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, who were constructing a hydroelectric power plant in the Rasuwa area, have lost contact due to the flood.
However, another 10 South Korean employees of Doosan Enerbility, who were initially reported to be isolated locally, evacuated along with about 200 foreign employees, including Nepalis, and are waiting for rescue while confirmed to be safe.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun stated that the government plans to dispatch a joint rapid response team consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Fire Agency, and the National Police Agency to Nepal on the 27th to support search and rescue operations for South Koreans.
Rajendra Prasad Damala, a police spokesperson for Bagmati Province, expressed concern to the EFE news agency, saying, "The death toll is expected to rise further from the number confirmed so far."
Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah (35, also known as Balen) held an emergency cabinet meeting that day to discuss rescue and relief measures.
Sasmita Pokharel, a spokesperson for the Nepali government, said, "We have requested cooperation for rescue operations from India and China (neighboring countries)."
India's Ministry of External Affairs announced that it has sent a transport plane loaded with 10 tons of emergency relief supplies to Nepal.
Bagmati Province, the site of the accident, is located about 120 kilometers north of the capital, Kathmandu, in the Himalayas along the border with China's Tibet.
Due to poor local road conditions, it is known to take more than half a day by car from Kathmandu.
On this day, the Bhotekoshi River in the Rasuwa district overflowed due to the floods, sweeping through nearby villages and damaging roads and hydroelectric facilities.
Citing Sunil Ramsal, Nepal's Minister of Infrastructure, local Nepali media outlet Online Khabar reported that infrastructure damage from this major flood is expected to reach at least 200 billion Nepali rupees (approximately 1.8 trillion won).
Videos shared on social media showed massive muddy waters rushing down rapidly from the upper mountainous region along with debris, while people shouted and desperately ran or evacuated on motorcycles.
Houses in the surrounding area were also swept away by the flood.
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