Second Israeli Citizen Missing After Devastating Nepal Flood Disaster

Israel's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that a second Israeli citizen is missing following a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal last week. The ministry stated that its consulate in Kathmandu and the department for Israelis abroad are in continuous contact with the missing woman's family and are working with local authorities to locate her.

The missing Israeli, 41-year-old Katerina Sakovits, resides in Milan, Italy, and holds a Belarusian passport, having previously been registered solely as a Belarusian citizen. She was last seen in the area affected by the massive debris flow on the day of the disaster. Her family has appealed to the Foreign Ministry for assistance in coordinating search efforts with Nepalese authorities, and her sister is reportedly traveling to Nepal to join the search.

The devastating flood, triggered by a massive glacier collapse and rockslide near the Nepal-Tibet border, has claimed at least 734 lives, with approximately 2,500 others still missing. The disaster has obliterated entire villages, infrastructure, and an estimated four to five villages have been completely buried under heavy mud. Additionally, around 28 buses have disappeared, and hundreds of tourists from various countries are unaccounted for.

The Nepalese government has declared a state of emergency and is conducting extensive rescue operations with the help of helicopters, security forces, and local residents. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, described the event as an "unexpected lightning strike of natural disaster" and emphasized the mobilization of all government resources for immediate rescue efforts.

Rescue teams on the ground report widespread destruction along the flood path. David Fisher, head of the Red Cross delegation in Nepal, noted that "entire villages and market areas have been completely wiped out." Stories of survival have emerged, including that of 24-year-old Nepali worker Bibek Komal, who clung to a mango tree for hours, and Ram Chandra, an electrician who survived by holding onto ladder rungs in a hydroelectric tunnel for six hours. Over 900 workers at hydroelectric power plants in the region are among the missing.