Nepal Declares National Mourning on 13th Day After Floods Kill More Than 1,300

Nepal declared a national day of mourning on the 13th day after devastating floods swept through the country’s north near the Chinese border. The disaster has killed 1,356 people and left 4,994 missing, according to the latest figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

The government chose the date because the 13th day marks the end of Hindu funeral rites. Flags will fly at half-staff at government offices across Nepal, as well as at Nepali embassies and diplomatic missions abroad, the Interior Ministry said.

At least 587 foreigners, including two Spaniards, are among the missing. Authorities have so far handed over only 98 bodies to families, and identifying bodies and partial remains remains the main challenge.

More than 20,000 members of the army, police and armed forces are taking part in what the government describes as an unprecedented rescue deployment. Although the deadly avalanche struck on August 26, hopes in the disaster’s “ground zero” have risen after several survivors were found alive.

On Saturday, rescuers pulled Chandrika Shrestha, 64, from her home in Nuwakot after she survived 11 days beneath a thick layer of mud. Across the border in China’s Tibet region, which was also badly hit, authorities reported 43 deaths and 519 people still missing.