[Anchor]
 
As search operations continue across the affected areas, some individuals have been rescued by the skin of their teeth. Survivors recounted the tense moments, saying they ran for their lives as muddy water surged up to the height of a four-story building.

Reporter Jeon Yeonnam has the details.

[Reporter]

Massive waves of muddy water come crashing down, instantly engulfing construction sites and the village.

The village, swept by a massive flood, has turned into a mudfield, with only the upper parts of some buildings visible through the thick mud showing traces of what once stood there.

It is literally in ruins, making it impossible to distinguish roads from rivers.

Foreign tourists and other survivors, who were narrowly rescued and gathered at a military training center in the Nuwakot district, patted their chests in relief while vividly testifying to the chaotic moments of their escape.

[Anjana Raja / Indian Tourist and Survivor : I saw muddy water surging violently up to about the fourth-floor height. We ran frantically to survive. We sprinted up 500 steps toward the mountain to find a safe place.]

They also explained that right before the massive flood struck, they heard a tremendous roaring sound so loud that they mistook it for an earthquake.

[Anjana Raja / Indian Tourist and Survivor : It sounded like huge boulders falling down. It was the sound of large rocks crashing heavily into the water. It was like when a huge stone drops into water and carves it out. So at first, I thought it was an earthquake.]

Running toward higher ground was the only option.

[Stefano Rutumulo / Italian Tourist and Survivor : There was nothing else we could do except run away. The road is about 40 to 50 meters wide, and all of that happened in just one minute.]

Although they narrowly escaped with their lives, survivors remain stranded as roads have been cut off in various places, leaving them continuing to go hungry in the aftermath of the massive flood, a local Korean missionary reported.

[Heo Eon-yak / Korean Missionary Living in Nepal : There are a huge number of people in that village over there, but we cannot reach that village at all. Right now, having no food, about 250 children who were gathered after having classes at a school have reportedly not been able to eat for two days....]

Many survivors are reportedly unable to check whether their family members are dead or alive, having been separated from them after leaving for work or school.

[Video Editing: So Ji-hye]