Flood in Nepal Kills 538, Displaces Tourists
Moscow 27 Aug VESTI. A catastrophic flood in Nepal may have been caused by the collapse of glacial debris upstream of the Bhote-Koshi and Trisuli rivers.
Consensus
- A flood occurred in northern Nepal on August 26.
- The flood was caused by a landslide of snow and rock.
- At least 538 people died and 977 are missing.
- Over 3,300 people were rescued.
- At least 22 concrete and five metal bridges were destroyed.
- Hydroelectric stations, communication, and water supply were damaged.
- More than 17,000 specialists and 4,400 police participated in search operations.
- Authorities warned of the risk of further flooding.
- At least four Russian citizens were in the affected area.
- Eight Russian citizens evacuated to Kathmandu on their own.
- The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Russians to avoid affected areas and contact the embassy in Kathmandu.
Points of divergence
- Turist expert Dmitry Arutyunov stated that the disaster zone is not a popular tourist route and that the flood will have only a minor impact on Russian tourists, as the situation in Kathmandu remains calm. — riamo
- Russian guides suggested the event was not a regular flood but more like a landslide-induced wave, and that the area affected is popular among pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash in Tibet. — vesti
- The landslide occurred at the border between Nepal and China, and over 640 tourists are reported missing, including eight Russians. — vesti
- Approximately 15,000 Russians visit Nepal annually, mainly mountaineers. — riamo
Coverage (2 sources)
- Turkexpert Arutyunov: Nature is unlikely to reduce the flow of Russians to Nepal — РИАМО
- Russian guides named possible cause of flood in Nepal — Вести