More than 50 Malaysians in Nepal remain unreachable by their families following devastating floods that struck the country on Wednesday, with the fate of hundreds of locals and foreign nationals still unknown.
Malaysian Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Kathmandu, Mohd Firdaus Azman, said authorities were still gathering information on Malaysians who could not be contacted. He said families had so far been unable to reach more than 50 Malaysians believed to be affected by the disaster.
“We are still gathering information on Malaysians who cannot be contacted. Families have been unable to reach more than 50 Malaysians,” Firdaus told Bernama late Wednesday.
He said road access to the affected areas had been severely disrupted by flooding from the Bhote Koshi River, while the Nepalese government had deployed helicopters as part of search and rescue operations. The embassy was also coordinating closely with local authorities, although damaged communication infrastructure was making it difficult to obtain information on those who remain unaccounted for.
Malaysians trying to locate relatives or friends in the affected areas have been advised to provide their details, including passport and travel information, to the Malaysian Embassy via email at mwkathmandu@kln.gov.my for coordination purposes.
The death toll from the floods had surpassed 160 by Wednesday night, while hundreds of people, including tourists, police personnel and members of Nepal’s security forces, were still unaccounted for. At least 142 Indian nationals were also reported missing.
The disaster, triggered by what authorities described as a massive landslide, swept away villages, bridges and several energy projects. The scale of the destruction has also severely affected transport links and access to some of the worst-hit areas.
A seismic event measuring 5.2 magnitude was initially reported near the Nepal-China border at 8.37am local time on Wednesday. However, the United States Geological Survey later determined that the event was actually caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow, rather than an earthquake.
Nepalese authorities said the flash floods entered the country from China through the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa district. According to reports by the Kathmandu Post, 19 bridges and about 40 kilometres of highways were destroyed by the flooding.
Police have since halted vehicle movement from Kathmandu towards the worst-affected districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading. CCTV footage also showed buildings and vehicles at the Gyirong border port in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region being swept away by powerful currents carrying water and mud.
China has also launched efforts to locate those reported missing in the affected region. Chinese President Xi Jinping instructed authorities to carry out comprehensive search operations, according to China’s ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong.
Three deaths and 265 missing persons were reported in China, while India has sent a C-130J aircraft carrying 10 tonnes of essential relief supplies and medical equipment to Nepal. Additional C-17 and C-130 aircraft are expected to deliver further aid, with helicopters also being deployed for rescue and evacuation operations.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh and Pakistan have expressed their readiness to assist Nepal as the country continues to deal with the devastating floods. Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said his country was prepared to provide whatever assistance Nepal might require, while Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Islamabad stood firmly with the Nepalese government and people.
In India, the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which share a border with Nepal, have also been placed on alert over possible flooding. India’s Home Ministry reported a sharp rise in the Trishuli River at Furke Khola in Nepal, around 160 kilometres from the Indian border, warning that the effects could extend downstream towards the Gandak River basin.
