Nepal death toll rises to 547, fresh flood fears loom
A disaster-stricken riverbank area. Photo: Reuters
The death toll from Wednesday's devastating floods and landslides in Nepal has risen to 547, with another 1,473 people injured.
Nepal Police confirmed the latest figures in a statement on social media on Friday.
The statement said that 4,473 police personnel are currently engaged in disaster response efforts. A new challenge has emerged in identifying the bodies and handing them over to families, as many of the deceased were swept away by floodwaters to distant areas. So far, 221 bodies have been recovered in Chitwan district and 134 in Nawalparasi East district.
Chitwan District Officer Ganesh Aryal said that many of the bodies are in poor condition. Due to a lack of space in the local hospital morgue, a government building has been designated to store the bodies.
Meanwhile, the Nepalese government has intensified search and rescue operations. The Prime Minister's Office announced that an additional team of 1,200 members has been deployed along riverbanks from Rasuwa to Chitwan and in all potential flood-affected areas. Army personnel are continuing rescue efforts despite strong currents and difficult terrain.
David Fisher, head of the Nepal delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said that approximately 93,000 people may have been affected by the floods. There are also concerns about the possibility of fresh flooding.
Fisher stated, "We are very worried about a second wave of flooding." The International Red Cross has requested 2.5 million Swiss francs in emergency funds to support life-saving response efforts. The organisation said its entire global network has been mobilised for this operation.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal said that search and rescue operations are now at a "critical stage." According to them, water levels in a lake blocked by landslides caused by the initial flooding have risen and begun to overflow. This has raised fears that the dam could break, triggering even larger floods.
Nepalese and Chinese authorities are monitoring the situation and working to address the risks.
Source: BBC
