Death Toll from Nepal-China Mega Floods Reaches 1,066... South Korean Emergency Relief Team Arrives On Site

One week after massive floods swept through the Himalayan mountainous region along the Nepal-China border, rescue authorities made desperate efforts on the 2nd (local time) to find missing persons presumed to be isolated at various hydroelectric power plants and other locations.

The Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) arrived in Nepal earlier in the day to begin supporting search and rescue operations.

According to AFP and Reuters, the death toll from the massive floods within Nepal, as compiled by the National Disaster Management Authority, has risen to 1,050.

Combined with 16 deaths on the Chinese side, the total death toll has reached 1,066.

The missing persons total 4,462, including 3,916 in Nepal (590 foreigners) and 546 in China (261 foreigners).

Rescue teams, including the Nepalese military, are attempting to access tunnels at several hydroelectric power plants in an effort to rescue hundreds of employees believed to be trapped inside.

According to Reuters, the disaster management agency stated the previous day that at least 639 people are missing and isolated at various hydroelectric plants.

Many of them are presumed to be trapped inside the power plant tunnels.

To reach them, workers are struggling by blasting large rocks blocking the tunnels, scooping out thick mud and soil covering the area, and digging holes.

However, operations are facing difficulties as the tunnels are already filled with mud, or large amounts of water are flowing into the excavated holes and flooding them.

Ashis Gurung, a mountain guide participating in a hydroelectric plant tunnel rescue operation, told Reuters after checking the site, "It is impossible for a person to go inside the tunnel," adding, "Equipment like bulldozers and excavators is needed."

According to preliminary estimates by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), various sediments such as building debris, rocks, and mud covering the disaster-stricken areas amount to at least 2.2 million tons.

Meanwhile, the South Korean government's 44-member KDRT arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu at 6:27 a.m. today via a military transport plane.

The KDRT plans to conduct search and rescue operations, focusing on the area where nine South Roreans are reported missing, in cooperation with Nepalese authorities.

The planned active period is about 10 days, but it may be extended depending on field conditions.

They plan to utilize various advanced equipment, including high-resolution imaging drones, acoustic and video detectors for buried victims, and thermal imaging detectors.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.