BURSTForeign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says 32 Canadians and permanent residents are among those still unaccounted for following the devastating flash floods and mudslides in Nepal.
In total there are 1,924 people missing and 517 of those are foreign nationals, Anand said during a media briefing on Friday (Aug. 28). She said 579 bodies have been recovered.
She said numbers will “likely change” given that more rain is expected and water levels and volumes are expected to rise.
“Canadians in the region should monitor the situation closely and follow the advice of local authorities.”
There are approximately 858 Canadians registered as being in Nepal and 18 Canadians in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, according to Global Affairs Canada’s Registration of Canadians abroad system.
Flash flooding tore through Bhotekoshi River on Wednesday. The Nepal Embassy in Ottawa says the flooding has caused widespread displacement and extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure.
Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai said currently 100,000 people in the impacted region are in need of urgent humanitarian aid.
He said the federal government will be providing $5 million to support emergency relief efforts in Nepal.