네팔 대홍수로 최소 160명 사망…외국인 341명 포함 403명 실종

Heavy flooding in Nepal's north-central Himalayan region, situated at China's border, has resulted in at least 160 deaths, including 403 missing persons, 341 of whom are foreign nationals. The police have recovered 157 bodies, while Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that three people drowned near the border in Tibet. Nepal's tourism department confirmed that 403 tourists are currently missing, 341 of whom are foreigners, and 28 police officers are also reported missing.

Nine South Korean nationals from the Ulsan-Daebang and Dabus Energy companies are also missing. The government plans to deploy a joint rapid response team comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fire Department, and Police to the affected area. Some villages were swallowed by mud, and at least 19 bridges were destroyed. The US Geological Survey revised the cause of the disaster from a 4.4-magnitude earthquake to a 5.2-magnitude landslide triggered by a glacier collapse.

The USGS stated that a 5.2-magnitude seismic wave occurred due to a glacier collapse and subsequent mudslides, which caused downstream catastrophic effects. However, the Himalayan International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) climate experts believe that the massive snow avalanche that blocked rivers could be linked to climate change, as it would have caused rapid water flow.