Eight Russian nationals missing in China-Nepal border disaster zone

Eight Russian citizens have been reported missing in the disaster zone on the China-Nepal border, the Russian Embassy in China said on Saturday.

“As of the evening of 29 August, eight Russian citizens are recorded as missing in the disaster zone on the China-Nepal border. Diplomatic representatives have not yet received information regarding their whereabouts,” the embassy said in an official statement.

Chinese authorities have arranged the evacuation of foreign nationals from the Tibet Autonomous Region to Nepal through a checkpoint in Zhangmu town.

It was reported that three Russian citizens crossed the China-Nepal border through this checkpoint on Saturday, according to the statement.

Flash floods struck northern Nepal on the morning of 26 August after a surge of water from the Chinese side swept through the Bhote Koshi River. The severe flooding was the result of an earlier landslide.

Based on the latest data, 626 people have died as a result of the disaster, and more than 2,000 people are reported missing.