A thousand EU citizens are still missing in Nepal almost a week after the devastating earthquake that hit during what is the peak season for trekkers, said EU ambassador to Nepal, Rensje Teerink, on Friday. Most of the missing were trekking in the Everest area, or in the Langtang region, close to the epicentre of the earthquake. ou de l'Everest. "They are missing but we still do not have any details," she said. "There were a lot present in the Langtang region and some around Lukla," she added, referring to the small Himalayan town known as the gateway to Mount Everest.
According to another EU official who preferred to remain anonymous, the majority are expected to be found safe and sound but the lack of access to these hilly areas is making it difficult to get information about their whereabouts.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck parts of Nepal and killed 6,200 people unleashed an avalanche on the base camp of Mount Everest, killing 18 people.
Unconfirmed reports describe avalanches having completely destroyed villages in the Langtang region, an area north of Kathmandu that rescue workers are struggling to access. According to the Nepalese press, dozens of foreigners have been evacuated from Langtang.
(Source: Belga)
