Tourist board says 33 UK nationals missing after Nepal-Tibet flash floods
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Nepalese authorities say 33 UK nationals missing after flash floods
1 hour ago
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By
Adam Goldsmith
and
Simon Atkinson
Reuters
Mud slides following flooding buried homes and vehicles in the Nuwakot district of Nepal.
Thirty-three people from the UK are among hundreds feared missing following a deadly flash flood near the Nepal-Tibet border. Flooding and mud slides hit the Rasuaw region in the morning on Wednesday, killing at least 157 people in Nepal and three in Tibet, according to Chinese state media.
Nepal police said 579 tourists are missing – including 466 who are foreign nationals, from 28 different countries.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is in touch with local authorities and "will do everything we can" to support British nationals affected, urging those in the region "to follow guidance from the local authorities and follow our travel advice".
The UK Foreign Office said it is working closely with Nepalese authorities "following concerning reports of British nationals who are missing" and has encouraged Brits to follow local guidance and "remain alert to the changing situation".
According to Nepal police, 113 of the missing tourists are Nepalese, and 54 are from the US.
Excursion company Alpine Eco Trek, which offers guided expeditions and tours in Nepal, confirmed to the BBC that it has not been able to establish contact with a group of 12 Britons who were booked on a tour to Mount Kailash, and were in the region when the flash floods struck. The company said it had made attempts to charter a rescue helicopter but were unable to fly due to poor conditions, and will continue to help with ongoing rescue efforts on Thursday.
According to the company’s travel logs, shared with the Press Association, the age of the missing British citizens ranges from 13 to 65. Alpine Eco Trek said the youngest member of the group is believed to be a 13-year-old girl.
It also reported four of the firm’s Nepali tour guides are also missing. The company’s manager Kumar Adhikari said he was in contact with the guides until 08:40 when they were expected to be at Tibet’s immigration office, but their phones were disconnected. "We were hoping that inside it was safe," he told PA, "but later the video came from China’s government which [showed] even Tibet’s side was hit by the flood."
Adhikari said he was "slowly responding to" the families of the Britons but has been unable to give them any updates, adding he has been in contact with the British consulate and forwarded them copies of the clients’ passports.
"I feel so sad. We are just thinking about what to do next…We are in pain at the moment, deep pain."
Another tour company impacted by the flash floods, Himalayan Glacier US, told the BBC they have lost contact with eight clients.
