Nepal completes search for missing after glacier collapse in August

Nepali authorities have announced the end of a search and rescue operation deployed after a catastrophic glacier collapse and flooding that killed at least 1,455 people. This is reported by Reuters.

The head of Nepal’s National Emergency Operations Center, Fanindra Paudel, told the agency that it was moving “from the search and rescue phase to the recovery phase.” In total, almost 13.8 thousand people were rescued. At least 5,285 people are still missing. According to the official, the issue of how to legally declare the missing dead is already being considered to allow their families or relatives to complete insurance, banking and other legal formalities.

Dharam Raj Upreti, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority, said emergency rescue efforts would be carried out if needed.

On August 26, a catastrophic flood occurred in the border area of Nepal with Tibet, provoked by the collapse of part of the glacier on Mount Langtang-Lirung. The resulting mudflows caused destruction in six regions of Nepal and in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 12 hydropower plants, roads, bridges, farms and settlements were destroyed.

On September 24, Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah, speaking at the UN General Assembly, made it clear that the country is in dire need of increased international assistance to deal with the consequences. According to the government, the need for reconstruction funds is estimated at $ 4.78 billion - about 12% of the country's GDP. Only the repair of power facilities and power grids will require $2.58 billion. Nepal has not yet found these funds.

Ernest Philippowski