Two Israelis Missing After Devastating Floods in Nepal

The death toll from catastrophic flooding in northern Nepal has risen to 939, according to the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, August 31. Chinese authorities confirmed 16 fatalities on their side of the border. A total of 4,247 people are missing in Nepal and 546 in southwestern Tibet, bringing the total number of unaccounted for to nearly 4,800, including at least 590 foreign tourists, workers, and pilgrims. It has been confirmed that two Israeli citizens are among the missing, an update from earlier reports stating only one. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a 41-year-old Israeli woman, who also holds a Belarusian passport and does not reside in Israel, is missing. She was previously listed among missing Belarusian citizens. The Israeli consulate in Kathmandu and the ministry's department for Israelis in distress abroad are in constant contact with her family and working with local authorities on search efforts. The ministry has issued travel advisories for Nepal and China, urging travelers to follow local authorities' instructions and avoid flood-affected or high-risk areas. They recommend monitoring weather forecasts, informing contacts in Israel of travel plans, keeping phones charged, avoiding flooded crossings, and contacting the Israeli embassy in case of emergency. The search is hampered by rising water levels, which could trigger further flooding. The International Red Cross estimates over 90,000 people have been affected, including injured and homeless individuals, with thousands still cut off. A large-scale rescue operation is underway for 933 people trapped in tunnels of a hydroelectric power cascade, with authorities deploying additional forces and equipment in an attempt to access the inaccessible tunnels. Despite extensive efforts, no survivors or bodies have been recovered from the tunnels. In southwestern Tibet, a new road is being constructed to a border crossing destroyed by the initial flood surge. Heavy debris has been cleared, but the old road remains submerged. Chinese media reported that 18 customs and border control officers who survived the initial flood have joined rescue efforts. The floods, which began on the morning of August 26, were triggered by a landslide caused by a 4.7 magnitude earthquake. The landslide blocked the Bhote Koshi River, and the subsequent breach of the dam washed away several villages. Roads, bridges, communications, and hydropower infrastructure have been severely damaged, particularly in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts.