55 Ukrainians missing after devastating floods in Nepal, Foreign Ministry says (UPDATED)
UPDATE: The number of Ukrainians missing after the devastating floods and landslides on the Nepal-Tibet border has risen to 55, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry told hromadske.
They include two Ukrainian tourist groups and one Ukrainian traveling with a foreign group.
There is still no information that any Ukrainians have been killed or injured.
The ministry said it had received a report that contact had been lost on Thursday morning with a group of 46 Ukrainian tourists in the disaster zone.
According to Nepal’s Tourist Police, a total of 53 Ukrainian citizens are currently considered missing. Relatives of eight Ukrainians have also contacted the Foreign Ministry’s hotline to report losing contact with them.
Ukraine’s embassies in India and China are working to locate the missing citizens at the request of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Ukraine’s honorary consul in Nepal has also joined the effort.
Ukrainian diplomats and the ministry’s consular service are gathering additional information and coordinating with international authorities to locate the tourists and support their families.
Devastating floods in Nepal
At least 95 people have been killed in Nepal and neighboring Tibet following severe flash floods, while at least 579 tourists from 26 countries are reported missing.
Nepalese Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal said an earthquake may have triggered an avalanche into a river valley, causing the flooding. He also said China had suffered “enormous damage,” with the powerful flow of water and mud destroying bridges, roads, a hydroelectric power plant, power lines and homes.
A major rescue operation involving helicopters and drones is underway to search for missing tourists and pilgrims who had been traveling toward Mount Kailash. Rescue efforts have been hampered by extensive infrastructure damage and disrupted communications.