Sudden "Evacuate" Order at 4:30 AM… Fresh Emergency as River Surges

[Anchor]

Fears of additional flooding persist at the disaster site. Early this morning (August 30), another flood warning sounded, prompting nearby residents to evacuate urgently.

Let us first watch the report from correspondent Han Sang-woo, who is reporting from the scene, and then connect live.

[Reporter]

At 4:30 AM in the darkness, a rush of urgent evacuations unfolds.

[Watch out, please be careful.]

[(Are you evacuating? Are you evacuating?) Yes.]

Entire families board a single motorcycle, while vehicles are packed tight with belongings as they move.

Upon news of yet another flood in the early morning hours, residents evacuated urgently while the river swelled dramatically with raging currents.

[Announcement : The water level of the river is rising. Please be careful.]

Soon, water mist rises as fierce currents wrap around the river.

The area near the disaster zone went on high alert following reports early this morning that a massive volume of water was surging down again from the upper stream.

[Disaster Site Manager : The river water level started rising again from 2:45 AM. So we are warning the people.]

Fortunately, it passed without severe damage, but search and recovery operations were temporarily suspended.

Operations seemed to resume from the morning, but another danger signal was picked up.

[Gurung / Nepal Police : (Did the warning come out again?) Yes. (So is the water level rising now?) Yes, it is high.]

When another flood risk warning was issued during the day today, civilian access to the affected area was strictly restricted.

Search and rescue operations remain sluggish as heavy machinery mobilized with great difficulty got stuck in mud and unable to move.

Families of the missing are equally frustrated.

[Family of Missing Person : We searched every hospital in Kathmandu, but they were not there either. Since they might be rescued by helicopter, we are waiting here.]

Holding onto wire fences outside the zone where helicopters fly back and forth, they wait for news of their family members' rescue, but on the fifth day since the disaster, the embers of hope are growing dimmer.

(Photo: Yonhap News) / (Video Reporting: Joo Yong-jin, Kim Hangyul | Video Editing: Lee Sang-min)

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[Anchor]

Yes, let us go straight to the flood disaster site in Nepal.

Correspondent Han Sang-woo, are you in a safe place right now?

[Reporter]

Yes, I am currently in a village right next to the disaster site.

This area is relatively high in elevation and thus fairly safe, but since early this morning, we could visually confirm that the volume of water in the Trishuli River has increased significantly and its flow velocity has accelerated.

As the currents erode the surrounding areas, the river width is also expanding, prompting some residents living right next to it to evacuate.

[Anchor]

I heard that the conditions for survivors are also dire. How are they holding up?

[Reporter]

Those who barely escaped with only their bodies at the time of the disaster, and those who lost or have family members missing—they all survived, but every day is a struggle.

A student I met today expressed deep anguish, sharing that he lost a friend who studied at the same school and escaped alone with the help of someone else.

[Surviving Student : I am visually impaired. The dormitory where we live was entirely washed away by the flood. One of my friends is still out of reach and uncontactable.]

People who could not bring anything with them are acquiring clothes and shoes through relief organizations, and meals are provided at free soup kitchens for victims.

[Anchor]

Did you also report on the shelter facilities for displaced persons, correspondent Han?

[Reporter]

Yes, there are eight evacuation shelters for displaced persons here in the Bidur area.

Most of them utilize gymnasiums or public facilities, but conditions are equally poor.

[Nepal Police : Families of the deceased and the missing are staying here. They are staying here while waiting for confirmation news regarding the missing or deceased.]

The place I visited today was the hall of the Nepal Taekwondo Association, where 192 displaced people were staying.

All of them have been making do by laying mats on the floor in one space for five days, with no promise in sight of how long this situation will continue.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.