Recent reports indicate that the total material damage from last month's massive flooding in Nepal has reached 27.44 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately $2.4 billion), with reconstruction costs expected to exceed 72.33 billion Nepalese rupees (about $6.3 billion).
According to the Nepalese government, as reported by Yonhap News and the online media Khabar, the estimated total damage from the flood that occurred on August 26 is significant. This marks the first time the government has released specific figures regarding the recovery costs, although a government official previously estimated that the recovery expenses could range from $4 billion to $5 billion (approximately 55 billion to 69 billion Nepalese rupees).
Infrastructure damage has been assessed at 17.23 billion Nepalese rupees (around $1.5 billion), accounting for over 60% of the total damage. The energy sector, which includes hydropower plants and transmission lines, suffered the most significant losses, totaling 13.47 billion Nepalese rupees (about $1.1 billion), representing roughly 80% of the overall damage.
Damage to housing, schools, and cultural facilities is estimated at 6.78 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately $600 million), while road damage is assessed at 2.2 billion Nepalese rupees (around $200 million) and bridge damage at 1.135 billion Nepalese rupees (about $10 million).
The Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority reported that 7,570 private buildings were either completely or partially destroyed, affecting 32,933 individuals directly.
Currently, there are 37 temporary shelters established along the Trishuli River in Bagmati Province, housing 3,628 displaced individuals. Additionally, damages to agricultural water supply facilities are estimated at 1.64 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately $14 million), while damages to drinking water and communication systems are assessed at 1.38 billion Nepalese rupees (around $12 million) and 620 million Nepalese rupees (about $5.4 million), respectively.
A government official stated, "We estimate that 9 billion Nepalese rupees (approximately $790 million) will be needed for emergency recovery costs in the first six months of the overall reconstruction expenses."
The flooding occurred in the Himalayan mountainous region along the Nepal-China border on August 26, impacting the construction site of the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower plant in the Rasuwagadhi area of Bagmati Province. As a result, nine South Korean workers, including six from Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea South-East Power, went missing.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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