Nepal calls off flood search: 56 Ukrainians remain missing
Photo: Devastating floods in Nepal (Getty Images)
In Nepal and China, nearly 6,000 people are missing following a massive natural disaster. Among them are 56 Ukrainians, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The relevant authorities have released new figures. In Nepal, the death toll has risen to 1,455, with another 5,285 people still missing.
In China, 43 deaths have been confirmed. There, 519 people are considered missing, including 261 foreigners.
"The figures show that this horrific natural disaster has led to a tragedy of unprecedented scale—the disappearance of nearly 6,000 people, including foreign tourists, among whom are 56 of our compatriots," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes.
"Unfortunately, despite weeks of efforts by diplomats, consuls, and rescue workers, they have not yet been found among either the dead or the injured," the Ministry adds.
The Nepalese government announced the conclusion of the 40-day active search-and-rescue operation. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that this does not mean the end of the search or the investigation into the circumstances of the people's disappearance.
Rescue services continue to search for and identify remains.
The Nepalese side has initiated procedures to legally declare the missing persons deceased. Consequently, the Ukrainian Embassy in India has once again submitted a note to the relevant authorities of that country. The note addresses the procedure for officially documenting the deaths of individuals whose remains cannot be found or identified.
The National Police of Ukraine is continuing its pre-trial investigation. It is also finalizing the creation of a database of DNA profiles of relatives, which will subsequently be transferred to the foreign side.
Nepal has concluded its search-and-rescue operation following the flood that claimed the lives of at least 1,455 people. The disaster destroyed 12 hydroelectric power plants, as well as roads and bridges.
On August 26, a devastating flood struck the border region between Nepal and Tibet.
According to preliminary reports, it was caused by an earthquake that triggered an avalanche of melting snow.
On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that 53 Ukrainians were missing following the flood.
