Floods, landslides complicate search for missing South Africans
Rescue efforts for six missing South Africans in Nepal are currently stalled due to severe weather conditions, including landslides and flooding. Authorities warn that the risk of further glacial activity and dam failure makes the search operation extremely dangerous.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the extreme humanitarian challenges posed by climate-induced natural disasters in mountainous regions.
JOHANNESBURG - The search for six missing South Africans in Nepal is expected to be extremely difficult.
Gift of the Givers’ Imtiaz Sooliman said their last known location was near areas affected by the floods,
either on the Nepalese or Tibetan side of the border.
But dangerous conditions are preventing rescue teams from moving freely.
Heavy rain, rising water levels, landslides and the threat of further glacial activity are all hampering the search.
"But the issues we don't know if the floods, how strong the floods were on the other side of the border.
“So since that period, from when we got the information on Thursday, there has been no contact. There is no functioning phone. There's no information, nothing. So we're not sure where they are.
READ: From joyous four-hour call to silence | Durban family pray for daughter's return after Nepal floods
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in