Nearly 3,800 Dead or Missing in Nepal Floods as Rescue Efforts Hit Snags Amid Fears of Secondary Flooding

[Anchor]

It has been five days since the massive floods struck Nepal. With the death and missing toll approaching 3,800, rescue operations are facing major setbacks, repeatedly suspended due to fears of secondary flooding and worsening weather conditions.

Reporter Yu Deok-gi has the details.

[Reporter]

As of this morning (August 30), the fifth day since flash floods and landslides struck the border region between Nepal and China, the death toll compiled by both countries has surpassed 750, with more than 3,000 people still missing.

Nine South Koreans, including six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea South-East Power who were working on a hydroelectric power plant, remain out of contact.

Search and recovery efforts have failed to gain momentum amid concerns over secondary flood damage caused by a massive artificial lake formed after collapsed glaciers and debris blocked the river flow.

Nepalese authorities stated that rescue operations are struggling due to the high, rugged mountains and narrow gorges in the affected areas.

The Nepalese government is prioritizing rescue operations around the Trishuli hydroelectric power plant project site, where more than 900 workers are estimated to be missing.

[Swarnim Wagle / Nepalese Finance Minister (Last night): As you know, people may still be trapped at the major hydropower project sites. Therefore, rescue operations [for this area] are continuing today.]

The AFP reported that while the Nepalese army rescue team successfully injected oxygen into the Trishuli 3A tunnel at the hydropower plant site—where roughly 100 people are estimated to be trapped—they are facing difficulties due to overnight rain and swollen rivers.

This tunnel is not a workplace for South Koreans; because it is located far from where South Koreans were stationed, the likelihood of South Koreans being there is known to be low.

As the death toll rapidly rises, hospitals across Nepal are also facing severe difficulties as the identification of bodies is delayed due to a shortage of morgues and facilities.

Nepalese authorities have requested international assistance in areas such as survivor detection, tunnel rescue, DNA analysis, and refrigerated storage facilities for bodies.

(Video Editing: Kim Jin-won)

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