The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that, as of 12:00 on 28 August, there had been no contact with 56 Ukrainians who are believed to be missing following the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal and Tibet.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs specified that these consist of two tourist groups of 48 and seven people respectively, as well as one Ukrainian woman travelling with a foreign tourist group.
Search and rescue operations are continuing; there are no Ukrainian citizens listed among the dead or injured, the ministry added.
“The Ukrainian Embassy in the People’s Republic of China is in constant contact with the Chinese authorities. Consular officials from the Embassy of Ukraine in India are currently in Nepal, where, in cooperation with the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Nepal, they have held a series of operational meetings with the relevant Nepalese state authorities, foreign colleagues, the manager of the hotel where one of the groups of Ukrainians was staying, the tour organiser and so on. The lists provided by the hotel and diplomatic missions have been cross-checked. Ukrainian consuls are coordinating efforts with colleagues from foreign diplomatic missions and tour operators to locate Ukrainian citizens, and are maintaining constant contact with emergency services and the families of Ukrainian citizens,” the statement reads.
The Foreign Ministry emphasised that the situation remains difficult due to the scale of the destruction, limited access to mountainous areas and the risk of further landslides.
According to the latest figures from the Nepalese police, more than half a thousand people have died as a result of the floods and landslides in the country. Chinese state media have confirmed reports of five deaths in Tibet.
More than 1,400 people are still missing, including hundreds of foreigners.
A sudden major flood on 26 August struck the border regions of Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet, triggered by a minor earthquake.
The earthquake triggered a landslide which came down from the mountains and blocked the courses of the Trishuli, Bhoti Koshi and Narayani rivers. The rivers burst their banks, and the water, mixed with silt and rocks, flooded the riverside areas.