August 22, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Saani 12,1423

KATHMANDU, Aug 21: At least 60 people were killed on Wednesday in a huge landslide which flattened a village in eastern Nepal, officials said.

“We understand that around 40 houses have been destroyed and 60 people have been killed,” home ministry spokesman Lekhnath Pokharel said.

The landslide happened on Wednesday morning in the remote village of Bamti in the district of Ramechhap, about 80 kilometres southeast of Kathmandu.

“The reports coming in are very unclear because the village is very difficult to reach and communication is difficult,” the spokesman said.

The Nepal Red Cross Society feared the devastation may be greater than estimated by government officials.

“At least 45 houses were affected while 32 were washed away by the incessant rains,” it said in a statement.

“It is feared at least 100 people might have been trapped under the debris,” it added.

Attempts to send relief supplies to the village by helicopter were thwarted by the bad weather, ministry spokesman Pokharel said.

Two rescue teams from nearby villages had set out on foot but due to poor communications it had not been possible to establish whether they had arrived at Bamti or not, he told AFP late Wednesday.

Before Wednesday’s landslide, more than 400 people had been reported killed in Nepal from monsoon floods.

On Tuesday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies put the death toll at 422, with another 173 reported missing.

“Concern is growing for flood and landslide victims in Nepal as heavy monsoon rains extend westwards across the country and an exceptionally high snow pack and glacial melt-rate adds to the already swollen river volumes,” the Red Cross said in a statement.

Nearly 260,000 people have been badly affected by the floods, the organisation said.

Thirty-two thousand people have so far been left homeless but with some areas cut off the Red Cross said the full picture had not yet emerged.

The International Federation has launched a 2.5-million Swiss franc (1.6 million dollars) appeal to help the Nepal Red Cross to provide 130,000 people with food, shelter, blankets, clothing and water purification tablets.

Torrential rains and tropical storms have lashed large swathes of Asia in recent weeks, leaving hundreds dead.—AFP