Filipina in Kathmandu worries about flooding, says Nepal's small PH community keeps in touch

A Filipina living in Kathmandu remains anxious after catastrophic flash floods devastated communities in Nepal's north near the Himalayan border with Tibet, an area she said is not too far from her home.

“I cannot say na sobrang layo niya kasi based on the map po, it's just 100 kilometers away," Divina, who lives in the Nepalese capital with her Nepali husband and their daughter, told GMA News. "Two to three hours' drive po siya from my place.”

A massive wall of water and mud crashed through valleys and hillsides on the border regions of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, and swept down a route that links Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet and which is usually thronged by trekkers and pilgrims. Nearly 1,000 people are still missing and at least 362 people have been killed. At least one Filipino is missing, according to Nepalese authorities.

While the worst of the flooding did not reach their part of Kathmandu, Divina said she remains worried about the situation because of the mountainous terrain and the possibility that floodwaters could move farther downstream.

“So worried din po ako. Though the Nepal government naman po is updating and monitoring naman po the situation,” she said.

On Thursday, Nepal and China both warned of fresh risks of flooding in the Himalayas as two lakes that have developed on either side of their border threaten to burst.

In a Zoom interview with GMA News, Divina said that helicopters have been regularly flying overhead to bring rescue and relief supplies to the flood-hit areas.

The disaster, according to several news reports, has also raised concerns farther downstream in neighboring India, where authorities in parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were placed on alert amid the possibility of rising waters moving through river systems originating in Nepal and flowing into northern India.

Filipino community

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are approximately 128 Filipinos residing in Nepal, with the Filipino community largely composed of women married to Nepalese nationals.

Divina said that several Filipinos who were in the flood-hit areas have already sent updates to their Filipino community group.

“May ilang Pinoy na nag-message po sa group namin na okay naman daw po sila na yung ground part daw po ng office nila yung natabunan ng baha,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, which is concurrently accredited to Nepal, and the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Kathmandu are actively monitoring the situation.

“The Embassy and the Consulate General are coordinating with Nepali authorities to determine whether there are affected Philippine nationals and provide emergency rescue or assistance,” the DFA said.

The Nepal Tourism Board has listed one Philippine national among 644 travelers reported missing following the flash floods. The preliminary information came from trekking and travel companies and is still being verified and cross-checked with travel agencies, guides, local authorities and security agencies.

As of August 27, the DFA had not independently confirmed that a Filipino is missing. The identity and current status of the Philippine national included in Nepal’s preliminary list also remains unconfirmed.

For now, Divina says she and other Filipinos in her area are safe and continues to rely on updates and monitoring from Nepalese authorities as search, rescue, and recovery operations continue.

Helicopters overhead

Reports say the August 26 disaster was triggered by a massive collapse of ice, rock and mud in the Himalayas that sent a powerful torrent through communities on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border.

In Nepal, the flooding swept through communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, severely affecting Rasuwa and neighboring districts including Nuwakot and Dhading. Roads, bridges, homes and other infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.

Nepalese authorities have deployed soldiers, police, helicopters and rescue teams to search for survivors and bring assistance to communities cut off by damaged roads and bridges. The scale of the destruction and difficult terrain have complicated rescue operations.

Divina said that they are now repeatedly hearing helicopters flying in and out as rescue and relief operations intensify in the flood-hit areas.

“Sobrang nakakatakot sir. At actually, time to time po... dumadaan yung mga chopper every almost two to three minutes,” she said.

Divina said Nepalese soldiers, police and other authorities have been conducting rescue operations, while local residents have also joined efforts to search for and assist those affected. — BM, GMA News