324 foreign nationals rescued; 590 others missing after Bhotekoshi floods: MoFA

KATHMANDU: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Tuesday that 324 foreign nationals have been rescued and 590 people from 39 countries remain missing after catastrophic floods on the Bhotekoshi River on August 26.

The government reported that more than 1,000 bodies have been recovered and that over 11,800 people have been rescued, while around 4,000 remain unaccounted for. These figures are being updated as search and verification operations progress.

The Ministry’s Emergency Control Room is coordinating closely with relevant agencies, Nepali diplomatic missions and the families of missing foreign nationals, spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri said. Nepali missions abroad are facilitating the exchange of verified information, communication with families and, where necessary, identification and repatriation procedures.

“We remain in close contact with the countries concerned and are committed to providing all necessary consular assistance,” Chhetri said. He added that the government has continued search and rescue operations through different agencies and security forces, with specialised international support in specific areas of expertise.

Specialised tunnel rescue teams comprising 24 personnel in two teams from India and nine personnel from China are mobilised at affected hydropower sites, Chhetri said, and a team from the Republic of Korea is also available. Indian teams are working with the Nepal Army at the Chilime and Langtang hydropower sites, while a Chinese team is coordinating with the Nepal Army at the Upper Trishuli 3A project site.

Chhetri said a 19-member forensic team from India specialising in DNA analysis has been working with Nepali authorities since August 29, and a forensic team of four people from China is arriving this evening. Coordination is under way to mobilise a Disaster Victim Identification team from Singapore. The government has requested LiDAR, Bailey bridges, freezers, DNA testing kits, load carriers, bags for human remains, high-capacity drones, a gene sequencer and other items.

The Government of Nepal is mobilising all available resources to protect lives, locate those who are missing, provide urgent relief and ensure assistance to all affected people, both Nepali and foreign nationals. More than 21,000 personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, Nepal (APF Nepal) are engaged in search, rescue, evacuation and relief operations across the affected areas.

Relief materials have been received from several countries, and additional supplies and assistance are being mobilised from other partners, the spokesperson said, adding that offers of financial assistance have also been received.

Authorities are assessing the scale of damage to houses, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure. A more comprehensive assessment through a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) will provide a clearer picture of overall damage, losses and recovery needs.