Nepal has declared a national holiday after devastating floods and landslides triggered by days of heavy rainfall killed at least 47 people across the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that authorities said six members of the same family died when a landslide crushed their home as they slept, while 35 others were killed in separate incidents in the Ilam district. Three more deaths were reported from lightning strikes.
Since Friday, torrential rains have battered the landlocked Himalayan nation, swelling rivers in the capital, Kathmandu, and submerging settlements along their banks.
By Sunday, the death toll had climbed to 47, with several people still missing. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said search operations were ongoing despite difficult conditions.
“Rescue efforts for the missing persons are going on,” said Shanti Mahat, spokesperson for the agency.
Officials noted that blocked roads and washed-out bridges have hampered access to the worst-hit areas.
The government announced a national holiday on Sunday as weather authorities warned that heavy rainfall was expected to continue until Monday.
Landslides and flash floods are common in Nepal during the monsoon season, which typically runs from mid-June to mid-September. Experts have warned that climate change is intensifying these disasters.
Last year, similar floods and landslides killed 224 people and injured 158.
India, which borders Nepal on three sides, has offered assistance in rescue and relief efforts.
