Kathmandu, Sept. 1 -- Hundreds of traders, container drivers and customs-related workers remain unaccounted for six days after a devastating flood swept through Nepal's northern trade hub in Rasuwa, while the scale of losses from the destruction of containers and goods worth billions of rupees remains unclear.

At least 15 customs employees are out of contact, while traders estimate that more than 300 container drivers and other workers may be missing. Hundreds of containers are believed to have been buried or swept away by the Bhotekoshi river flood, which destroyed the customs office and surrounding areas.

The uncertainty over the losses is compounded by the fact that many traders, workers and drivers had travelled to Rasuwa only after...