53 Ukrainian Nationals Missing in Nepal Flash Flood That Killed At Least 160

Fifty-three Ukrainian nationals are missing following a flash flood in Nepal, near the country’s border with Tibet, that has killed at least 160 people. The number of casualties is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. The group of missing Ukrainian citizens includes 46 Ukrainian tourists with whom contact was lost earlier in the day, according to Interfax-Ukraine citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Aug. 26.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Entire villages and market areas have been wiped out,” said David Fisher, Nepal’s head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), according to AFP. Ukraine’s embassies in India and China are coordinating with local authorities, including Nepal’s Tourist Police to establish the Ukrainians’ whereabouts. Three people in China are currently reported dead and another 265 are missing, AFP reported citing Chinese state media, while Nepalese police said they had recovered 157 bodies. According to CNN World, more than 150 people are confirmed dead, with the toll likely to rise further. At least 47 Americans are reported missing. Search efforts underway The Foreign Ministry said there was no information indicating that Ukrainian citizens were among those killed or injured. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reportedly instructed Ukraine’s embassies in India and China to use available personal information to contact the missing citizens and take further necessary measures. Other Topics of Interest Polish President Wishes Ukraine Victory in War With Russia, Zelensky Publishes Letter Zelensky thanked Nawrocki and said Ukraine would “always remember Poland’s support.” According to Interfax-Ukraine, the ministry’s hotline received eight appeals from relatives who had lost contact with people included in the missing-persons list. Ukraine’s honorary consul in Nepal had also joined the on-ground response. Flooding devastates border region According to CNN World, a landslide blocked the Bhote Koshi river, triggering a flash flood that swept downstream from China into Nepal and caused widespread damage to nearby villages and settlements, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Though it may take weeks to establish the exact cause of the flooding, CNN World separately reported that an international team of scientists believes a part of a glacier may have broken off and fallen into the valley below, triggering a landslide. The affected region is located on a popular route to Kailash Mansarovar, a site frequently visited by Hindu pilgrims, particularly at this time of the year. It is also a popular area for hiking and tourism. Tibetan government officials mobilized nearly 800 emergency workers and 150 vehicles to help with rescue efforts, while around 403 tourists – 341 of them foreigners – were unaccounted for several hours after the disaster struck, AFP reported citing Nepal’s tourism ministry. The missing foreigners included 142 Indians, as well as citizens of Portugal, the Netherlands, Australia, Britain, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea and the US. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.