Nepal flood death toll tops 900; 56 Ukrainians among thousands missing

Among those missing are 592 foreigners, including 56 Ukrainians, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry. They were traveling in several tourist groups when the disaster struck.

In Tibet, Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing. Chinese state media said 261 of those missing were foreigners, including more than 100 Nepalis.

Authorities said intensive searches were continuing for the dead and for people stranded on hills, in communities and along mountain riverbanks.

Nepali officials said the main focus was on rescuing workers believed to be trapped inside hydroelectric power plant tunnels blocked by mud and rock debris.

Nepal’s disaster management agency said 933 people were missing at hydropower facilities in the flood-hit region, Reuters reported.

The Red Cross estimates that more than 90,000 people were likely affected by the disaster, which China has linked to the effects of climate change.

On Aug. 26, a glacier collapsed on the Nepal-China border. The collapse triggered a huge torrent of rocks, ice, mud and debris that cascaded through Himalayan rivers. Water levels rose sharply, flooding communities in its path. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists were in the area at the time.

On Aug. 29, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry reported that 56 Ukrainian citizens remained missing in Nepal. The search was continuing, and geolocation data from their phones had been obtained.

On Aug. 30, the death toll was reported to have risen to 750, with more than 3,000 people still missing on both sides of the Nepal-China border.

Meanwhile, China is concealing information about the aftermath of the disaster. State television has shown almost none of the information and images that have circulated worldwide. Journalists are barred from entering Tibet without government permission, the BBC reported.