PH embassy monitors Nepal floods, checks for affected Filipinos

The Philippine Embassy in New Delhi and the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Kathmandu are monitoring the situation in northern Nepal following massive flash floods that hit parts of the country, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The Embassy, which is mandated to represent the Philippines in Nepal, and the Honorary Consulate General are coordinating with Nepali authorities to determine whether any Filipinos have been affected by the flooding.

"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 in a statement.

One Filipino is reportedly missing after a deadly flash flood struck Nepal on August 26, according to the Nepal Tourism Board.

According to its Situation Update-3 released on Thursday, the missing Filipino is among the 644 missing people following the flash flood.

Asked to confirm this, the DFA said, "Our Embassy and the Honorary Consulate General are verifying this information with the Nepali authorities. We'll share updates as soon as they become available."

A Reuters report quoting the Nepali police said that 359 had died, with dozens of bodies swept down into the plains from where they were being recovered.

Rescuers searched for survivors in the debris-strewn valleys and hillsides of Nepal on Thursday while more than 1,000 people remained missing there and in neighboring China after a wall of ice, mud and rock collapsed into a mountain river, triggering a catastrophic flash flood.

Authorities in Nepal used helicopters to search for survivors and drop emergency supplies to thousands cut off in towns and valleys in the wake of Wednesday's disaster, which swept down a route thronged by trekkers and pilgrims that links Kathmandu with Lhasa in Tibet, the report added.

The Philippine Embassy in New Delhi said it may be reached through the following:

Landline +91 9220405387 (Consular Phone)
Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Line / WhatsApp / Viber)
+919910797014
Email: newdelhipe.atn@dfa.gov.ph

Philippine Honorary Consulate General – Kathmandu, Nepal may be reached through the following:

Landline (Office): +977 014008801-805
Mobile: +977 985 110 1777
Email: philcongen@voith.com.np

—LDF, GMA News