More than 50 Malaysian travellers in Nepal remain unreachable following devastating floods that have left hundreds of foreigners and locals unaccounted for.
Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu charge d’affaires Mohd Firdaus Azman said late Wednesday that authorities were still gathering information on the Malaysians whose whereabouts could not be confirmed.
“We are still gathering information on the Malaysians who are unreachable. Family members have been unable to establish contact with more than 50 Malaysians,” he said.
Firdaus said flooding along the Bhote Koshi River had affected road access to the region, while the Nepalese government had deployed helicopters for search-and-rescue operations.
“We are in touch with authorities,” he said, adding that damage to communication infrastructure had made it difficult to gather information about the missing Malaysians.
He advised Malaysians trying to locate relatives or friends in Nepal to email the passport and travel details of the individuals concerned to the embassy at mwkathmandu@kln.gov.my for coordination.
Death toll exceeds 160 as rescue efforts continue
The flood death toll exceeded 160 on Wednesday night, while hundreds of people, including tourists and members of Nepal’s security forces, remained missing.
At least 142 Indians were among the foreign nationals reported missing.
The floods, triggered by an avalanche, swept away villages, bridges and power projects.
A magnitude-5.2 seismic event was initially reported near the Nepal-China border at 8.37am local time on Wednesday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
However, the USGS later said additional analysis of seismic stations, long-period seismic waves and satellite imagery showed that the event was a glacial collapse and debris flow, rather than an earthquake.
Nepalese authorities had earlier said a sudden flash flood entered Nepal from the Chinese side through the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district.
According to a Kathmandu Post report, the floods destroyed 19 bridges and 40km of highway.
Police halted vehicles travelling from Kathmandu towards the worst-hit districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading.
China reports deaths and missing people
Closed-circuit television footage showed buildings and vehicles at the Gyirong border port in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region being destroyed by torrents of water and mud.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered all-out efforts to locate missing people in the region, China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong said in a post on X.
Three deaths and 265 missing people were reported on the Chinese side.
The disaster also prompted regional efforts to support Nepal’s rescue and relief operations.
India deployed a C-130J aircraft carrying 10 tonnes of essential relief materials and medical supplies to Nepal.
The Indian Air Force said additional C-17 and C-130 aircraft would transport further relief supplies, while helicopters had been earmarked for rescue and evacuation operations.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said his country was ready “to extend any support that Nepal may need at this time of distress.”
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country “stands firmly with the government and people of Nepal in this difficult hour” and remained ready to provide all possible assistance.
Meanwhile, the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which border Nepal, were placed on flood alert.
India’s Home Ministry said a sudden rise in the water level of the Trishuli River at Furke Khola in Nepal, about 160km from the Indian border, had been reported on Wednesday.
“The impact of the flood is likely to travel downstream in the Gandak River, in India,” it said.
