Landslide causes new floods in Nepal and evacuation alert

A landslide caused new flooding in Nepal this Sunday (11).

According to Nepali authorities, the incident occurred in the village of Chumnubri, about 100 km west of the capital, Kathmandu. A large amount of dry land blocked the Budhi Gandaki river and ended up causing floods along the way.

The flood swept away about a dozen houses and two suspension bridges, as well as damaging a hydroelectric project camp, taking with it some of the construction equipment, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.

There are no reports of deaths or injuries, but five people are considered missing.

According to the Army, 49 people, including a foreigner, whose nationality was not disclosed, were rescued.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has warned people living along the river in Gorkha, Tanahun, Chitwan, East Nawalparasi and West Nawalparasi districts about flooding and issued an evacuation warning.

"Please help ensure that people in at-risk areas are moved to safe locations in time and assist with search and rescue operations as necessary," it said in a social media post.

The Budhi Gandaki River is a tributary of the Trishuli River, where a glacier collapsed and caused a catastrophic flood in August that killed 1,457 people.

On the 5th, Nepal ended the search and rescue operation for people who are still missing, authorities reported.

According to the head of the Nepalese National Emergency Operations Center, Phanindra Paudel, the government is evaluating how to legally declare missing people as deceased, to allow their families or relatives to complete procedures related to insurance, banking and other legal formalities.

At least 5,285 people have not been found after the tragedy that has had 1,455 confirmed deaths to date.

"We are moving from the search and rescue phase to the rehabilitation phase. We are starting the necessary legal procedures to complete the required formalities," said Paudel.

Dharam Raj Uprety, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, said authorities will no longer actively search for bodies but will recover any remains, possessions or other valuables found during the rehabilitation process.

The flood also destroyed 12 hydroelectric projects, roads, bridges, farms and settlements.

Authorities estimate that they need almost US$5 billion for the initial recovery of this infrastructure and support for the thousands of displaced people.