A massive natural disaster that hit the border region of Nepal and Tibet has led to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. According to competent authorities, the death toll in Nepal alone has risen to 1,455 people, while the fate of nearly six thousand others remains unknown. Among the missing are 56 Ukrainian citizens, whose fate is of grave concern to the diplomatic department.
Chronology of the Tragedy and Scale of Destruction
The destructive flood hit the border areas of Nepal and China at the end of summer. According to preliminary expert estimates, the natural cataclysm was triggered by a powerful earthquake that caused a massive avalanche of melting snow and ice. The disaster completely destroyed the region's infrastructure, wrecking 12 hydroelectric power plants, key roads, and strategic bridges, which significantly complicated the work of rescue services in the first days after the catastrophe.
Completion of the Active Search Phase
The government of Nepal officially announced the completion of the 40-day active search and rescue operation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasizes that the end of the active phase does not mean a complete cessation of work to clarify the circumstances of people's disappearance. However, the Nepalese side has already initiated legal procedures to legally declare the missing citizens dead, which required prompt intervention by Ukrainian diplomats.
Diplomatic Steps and Investigation
In response to the actions of the Nepalese authorities, the Embassy of Ukraine in India sent an official note requesting clarification on the procedure for documenting the deaths of individuals whose bodies cannot be found or identified. In parallel, the National Police of Ukraine is conducting a pre-trial investigation and completing the formation of a database of DNA profiles of relatives for transfer to foreign colleagues.
Contradictory Data
During the coverage of the tragedy in official reports and mass media, fluctuations in figures regarding the number of affected Ukrainian citizens were recorded. Thus, in the first days after the disaster, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported 53 missing Ukrainians, but as updated data arrived from rescue services and consulates, this figure rose to 56 people.
