Nepal Flood Death Toll Soars...International Community Races to Provide Emergency Aid

Nepal Flood Death Toll Surpasses 390 on Third Day
Nine Koreans Still Out of Contact
Government Dispatches Rapid Response Team

The death toll from the devastating floods in Nepal has risen sharply three days after the disaster struck. With roads and bridges cut off and the risk of further flooding, rescue operations are facing significant challenges. Countries such as Korea, India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, along with international organizations including the United Nations (UN), are stepping in to provide relief supplies, funds, and emergency personnel.

Reuters Yonhap News

According to local Nepalese media outlets such as the Kathmandu Post and Bloomberg News, on August 28 (local time), the Nepal Police and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported that as of the previous night, the flood death toll had risen to 389. With the addition of three deaths in China’s Tibet region, the total number of fatalities stands at 392. In Nepal, 977 people are reported missing or out of contact, while 558 remain unaccounted for in Tibet.

At the time of the flood, there were a total of 28 Korean employees from Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility who had been dispatched to a hydropower construction project. As of the previous day, nine of these employees—six from Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea South-East Power—remained out of contact. Separately, among the 10 Doosan Enerbility Korean staff who were isolated on-site, nine had evacuated to a safe area. The remaining individual, the site manager from Doosan Enerbility, reportedly stayed at the site, accompanied by two staff members from the Korean Embassy in Nepal: one consul and one administrative employee.

Given the widespread damage and high number of missing persons, the death toll is expected to rise further. The loss of numerous roads and bridges and the accumulation of mud and debris across the region have made search and rescue operations extremely difficult, especially as the risk of additional flooding and landslides persists. The NDRRMA stated in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that up to 80 bridges and 40 kilometers of paved roads had been damaged or swept away. UNICEF has also warned that the number of casualties is expected to increase as search operations continue. Local Nepalese security authorities and disaster experts believe this flood could become one of the deadliest disasters in Nepal's modern history.

There are also concerns about secondary disasters. According to the NDRRMA, a new lake approximately 0.11 square kilometers in size has formed in an upstream area about 18 kilometers from the Rasuwagadhi checkpoint near the Nepal-China border, due to the blockage of the Lende Khola River. Authorities have warned that if the natural dam holding this lake collapses, there is a risk of another large-scale flood occurring.

Simon Allen, a researcher at the University of Zurich who has been studying Himalayan glacial disasters, told Bloomberg that further rockslides or heavy rain could drastically worsen the situation and lead to significant flooding. He explained that two newly-formed lakes have been identified in the area, and that one of these is located just above the site where the snow and rock avalanche that triggered this disaster began.

The international community is also sending aid to flood-ravaged Nepal. With citizens of 33 different countries reported missing within Nepal, various governments are working to locate their nationals while also ramping up support for recovery efforts. India has sent nearly 50 tons of relief materials, including temporary shelters, blankets, and medicines, while China is dispatching emergency relief supplies and cash assistance. The United States has pledged 500,000 dollars and disaster response experts; the United Kingdom is providing 5 million pounds and emergency response personnel; and Australia has announced a 5 million Australian dollar humanitarian aid package and is deploying three additional specialists to the region. International organizations such as the UN, World Health Organization (WHO), and International Red Cross are also mobilizing personnel and medical and relief supplies.

The Korean government has moved swiftly to offer support. It has dispatched a government rapid response team of 11 people, including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Police Agency, and the National Fire Agency, and has decided to provide 1 million dollars in humanitarian assistance through international organizations. In addition, the Air Force’s multi-role aerial refueling tanker ‘Cygnus’ (KC-330) is being sent to Nepal to support search and rescue operations. This decision was made because local firefighting authorities requested large-scale aerial tanker support to transport relief supplies and equipment. The Ministry of National Defense will make a final decision after reviewing the situation at Kathmandu airport.

However, dispatching an overseas emergency relief team (KDRT) requires approval from the Nepalese government. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “Gaining the consent of the host country is crucial for relief teams to operate; just because we are willing to dispatch a team does not mean it will automatically happen.” The government has conveyed its intention to send a relief team to Nepal through diplomatic channels and plans to continue discussions on this matter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.