Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Rescue teams in Nepal were relying heavily on helicopters Thursday as destroyed roads and bridges left mountain communities cut off following deadly flash floods and mudslides.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said access remained especially difficult in Nuwakot, where severe damage had severed land connections to several areas.
He said entire villages, towns and hydropower facilities had been hit, raising fears that the confirmed death toll could still increase once rescuers reached communities that remained isolated.
The disaster struck near the Nepal-China border on Aug. 26, triggering widespread flooding and landslides across rugged terrain.
More than 1,200 people had been confirmed dead, while nearly 4,757 remained missing. The missing included 541 people in China.
With roads and bridges swept away in some areas, helicopters had become the primary means of reaching affected communities and transporting assistance.
Khanal said rescue operations were being carried out on humanitarian grounds, with teams assisting both local residents and foreign citizens without distinction.
Authorities continued search, rescue and relief operations as difficult terrain and damaged infrastructure slowed access to the hardest-hit areas.