Bay Area residents anxiously search for loved ones after catastrophic flooding in Nepal
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- As search-and-rescue efforts continued Friday in Nepal following catastrophic flooding, Bay Area families with ties to the region found themselves desperately seeking information about loved ones, confronting days of uncertainty as communications remain disrupted in some of the hardest-hit areas.
Jay Tamang, a resident of Greenbrae, said he and his wife have parents, relatives and friends living in Nepal, including some in communities affected by the flooding.
Tamang said he was stunned when he first saw images of the disaster.
"I opened my phone, and I saw the houses sweeping through and the bridges being swept away, and I thought it was AI," he said. "Then I read the news. I realized it was real."
With power outages and cellphone service disruptions hampering communication, Tamang said many families have struggled to reach loved ones.
"We tried to contact friends and family, but there was no cellphone connection or electricity right now," he said. "It's really unknown."
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The scale of the disaster has left communities around the world anxiously awaiting news. Authorities say at least 2,500 people remain missing and at least 579 deaths have been confirmed as rescue crews continue searching devastated areas.
For Anu Gupta of San Ramon, the crisis has become deeply personal.
Gupta, who has strong ties to Nepal, shared photos of relatives who disappeared while traveling through the disaster zone. She said family members last heard from them shortly after they cleared immigration.
"That was the last anybody heard from them," Gupta said. "And that's when the floods hit."
She said family members are clinging to hope that their loved ones reached higher ground and survived.
"Some people managed to escape, we believe, to some high ground," Gupta said. "We are hoping that they escaped. It's just that there is no information."
The lack of answers has prompted an international search effort driven largely through social media.
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"We are all on social media scrambling to get information," Gupta said. "It's just traumatic. It's devastating."
As families await word from Nepal, support is growing throughout the Bay Area, home to one of the nation's largest Nepali and Tibetan communities, particularly in the East Bay.
Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia said local leaders have heard widespread concern from community members.
"I heard from Nepali leaders yesterday there's a lot of fear and angst, but also resiliency," Gioia said.
That resilience will be on display next week when community members gather for a candlelight vigil at the Nepali Community Center in Richmond. Organizers say the event, scheduled for Thursday evening, is open to the public.
Gioia encouraged Bay Area residents to stand alongside those affected by the tragedy.
"I think for all of us in the community to support the Nepali and Tibetan community," he said. "They're vibrant members of our community here in Contra Costa and the Bay Area, and they appreciate that wider support in addition to supporting one another."
For many Bay Area families, however, the waiting continues as rescue efforts press on and loved ones remain unaccounted for.
Community holds vigil for flood victims
Members of the Bay Area's Nepali community gathered in Richmond on Friday night to honor victims of catastrophic flooding in Nepal and support families still awaiting news about missing loved ones.
"We were crying the whole night," said Hercules City Councilmember Dilli Bhattarai.
Bhattarai said his 35-year-old nephew, Prakas, was traveling with a friend near one of the areas affected by the flooding.
"He was in Gosainkunda," Bhattarai said.
After the flooding struck, family members were unable to contact him.
"Unfortunately, he got caught in this devastation and got disconnected for 48 hours," Bhattarai said.
Bhattarai said his nephew was later found and rescued with the help of military personnel and rescue crews.
"That was huge huge relief for us," he said. "I feel like not many other families are that lucky. I feel so sorry."
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Before sunset Friday, dozens of people gathered in Richmond and carefully arranged candles during a vigil for flood victims. Attendees said they wanted to honor those who died and show support for families affected by the disaster.
"We are very heartbroken for the people who have suffered, who have lost their families," said El Cerrito resident Deepti Acharya.
The gathering also highlighted signs of hope emerging from rescue efforts in Nepal.
"We woke up with great news yesterday that around 300 people were rescued alive at the tunnel form the hydro power project that was there," said Preetesh Karki, president of the Nepali Association of Northern California.
Organizers said the vigil was intended to unite the community and support ongoing relief efforts.
"We are just trying to sew the solidarity towards the country, towards the people, and be together at times of need," Karki said.
Some attendees contributed donations to aid recovery efforts.
"Because of the flood victims back home in my country that was really unexpected. We couldn't believe that," said Richmond resident Dibya Joshi, who made a donation.
Bhattarai said those affected remain on the minds of community members in the Bay Area.
"They are in our hearts and minds at this point," he said.
Organizers said donations can be made through the Nepali Association of Northern California and at the organization's location on Chelsea Avenue in Richmond. The community continues to raise funds and offer support as rescue and recovery efforts continue in Nepal.
