Latest news Report: At least 200 dead in floods in Nepal

Floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall have claimed the lives of at least 200 people in the Himalayan state of Nepal. More than two dozen people were also believed to be missing by Monday afternoon (local time), as the newspaper "The Kathmandu Post" reported, citing the police. More than 4,200 people were brought to safety. Many people were injured.

The South Asian country has been struggling for days with the consequences of intense rainfall. The number of victims increased with each passing day. Most of the fatalities were in the Kathmandu Valley, which includes the capital of the same name and other cities and is the largest conurbation in the country. Local media spoke of the worst rainfall in Kathmandu for decades. According to the UN Population Fund, around 31.2 million people live in the country.

Declining rainfall

The rainfall has recently eased or stopped in most parts of the country. However, according to a police spokesperson, there have been requests for help from some regions that were previously cut off from communication. The search and rescue work could take several more days, it was said. In addition to the police, the army was also involved in the work. In some areas, people were temporarily without electricity and internet access.

According to reports, the flooding caused severe damage to the infrastructure. Many roads were blocked, making transportation and rescue work difficult. While debris was cleared from roads across the country, domestic flights were able to partially resume. Numerous schools remained closed.

Nepal is often exposed to natural disasters due to its mountainous location and large rivers. Massive rainfall that causes flooding and landslides is normal during the monsoon season in South Asia, which usually lasts from June to September. At the same time, the rain is vital for agriculture, on which a large part of the population lives.

SDA