Nepal Hit by Flash Floods from Landslide Month and a Half After Catastrophic Floods; at Least 5 Missing

Flash floods struck Nepal once again on the 11th (local time), about a month and a half after the catastrophic floods that left some 7,000 people dead or missing, leaving at least 5 people missing.

According to authorities including Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the water level of the Budhi Gandaki River in the Gorkha district of Gandaki Province in central Nepal surged suddenly by 8.4 meters above normal levels at around 5:55 a.m. that day.

Raging torrents rushed down the river and swept through surrounding areas, leaving 5 residents missing so far and washing away around 10 houses.

In addition, 4 bridges, 2 communication towers, 50 utility poles, and construction equipment at a local hydroelectric power plant were damaged.

Upon receiving reports of the flood, local authorities sent out approximately 200,000 text messages (SMS) instructing residents in the surrounding areas to evacuate immediately.

As a result, hundreds of residents fled to safe locations.

The army also deployed 4 helicopters to rescue about 40 residents who were stranded in various places.

Authorities explained that the flood is believed to have occurred after a landslide in the Chum Nubri village area of Gorkha temporarily blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, forming a natural dam that subsequently collapsed.

Videos circulating on social media show villages and bridges being swept away by the swollen torrent mixed with mud and debris.

Previously, massive floods that occurred in the Himalayan mountainous region along the Nepal-China border on August 26 resulted in at least 1,497 deaths and 5,804 missing persons across both countries.

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