World
07:49, 14-Aug-2017
At least 64 dead, 53 missing in flooding, landslides in Nepal
["other","Nepal"]
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Floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall since Friday have killed at least 64 people in Nepal and left thousands homeless, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
At least 53 people have gone missing in various districts, the ministry said in a statement that issued Sunday night, adding that over 35,000 houses have been inundated while 1,000 houses have been damaged.
House of Nepali residents flooded in Janakpur, some 300km southeast of Kathmandu on August 13, 2017. /AFP Photo
House of Nepali residents flooded in Janakpur, some 300km southeast of Kathmandu on August 13, 2017. /AFP Photo
"The number of dead could increase as we are still compiling the final tally," Laxmi Pun, an aide to Home Minister Janardan Sharma, told Reuters.
The heavy rain, which mainly hit the country’s southern plains, led to the evacuation of 5,000 people, a Home Ministry official said.
Nepali residents make their way despite of the water in a flooded area in the Birgunj Parsa district, some 200km south of Kathmandu, on August 13, 2017. /AFP Photo
Nepali residents make their way despite of the water in a flooded area in the Birgunj Parsa district, some 200km south of Kathmandu, on August 13, 2017. /AFP Photo
Army and police personnel continued search and rescue operations, with more than 34,000 houses submerged, the official added.
About 100 Chinese tourists who were stranded in heavy floods in Sauraha, a popular tourist destination in southern Chitwan district of Nepal, had been brought to safe locations, police and the local hotel association said Sunday.
The Red Cross estimated 100,000 people were affected by the disaster, with one official describing how the storm had cut off communication and electricity, adding to the challenges in rescuing people and distributing aid supplies such as food and water to displaced people.