At least 33 UK nationals are missing after devastating floods in Nepal, including a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy, as rescue teams continue searching areas near the Nepal-Tibet border.
The disaster has left hundreds of people dead or unaccounted for. Nepali authorities continue to search through areas covered by floodwater, mud and debris. The disaster has also affected large numbers of foreign tourists.
British Tourists Missing After Nepal Floods
The UK Foreign Office said it is working closely with Nepalese authorities following reports of missing British nationals. Officials have urged people in affected areas to follow local instructions and remain alert as conditions change.
The missing Britons include people who were taking part in tours and pilgrimages toward Mount Kailash, a major religious destination in the Himalayan region.
Alpine Eco Trek, a company that organises tours in Nepal, said it had lost contact with a group of 12 British tourists who were in the region when the flooding struck.
Travel records indicated that the group’s members ranged in age from 13 to 65. The youngest member was a 13-year-old girl.
The company also said four of its Nepali guides were missing.
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Flood Damage
Rescue teams face difficult conditions as floodwater, landslides and damaged roads make access to affected areas extremely challenging.
The disaster damaged bridges and roads across the region, complicating efforts to reach people who remain unaccounted for. Satellite imagery has shown extensive destruction in villages along the affected river valleys.
The company said it tried to arrange a rescue helicopter for the missing group, but poor weather prevented the aircraft from operating.
Kumar Adhikari, the company’s manager, said the families of missing tourists were receiving updates where possible. He also said the company had shared copies of the tourists’ passports with British officials.
More UK Nationals Reported Missing
Other travel organisations have also reported missing British citizens.
The Trekkers’ Society said nine UK nationals travelling toward Mount Kailash remained unaccounted for after crossing the Nepal-Tibet border. The group included four males and five females.
Another company, Himalayan Glacier US, said it had lost contact with a group of 47 guests and staff travelling in the region. Two British citizens were reportedly among that group.
Kailash Journeys also reported losing contact with a group of 27 guests and staff, while Fishtail Tours said one British national was missing.
UK Offers Help to Nepal
UK officials have offered financial and other assistance to support Nepal’s disaster response.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he had spoken with his Nepalese counterpart and offered financial, search-and-rescue and other assistance.
The UK embassy in Nepal has also urged British nationals to exercise caution in areas affected by the disaster.
What Caused the Nepal Floods?
The flooding struck early Wednesday in Rasuwa, north of Kathmandu, near Nepal’s border with Tibet.
Initial reports suggested that an earthquake may have triggered the disaster. However, the US Geological Survey later said the seismic signal came from a landslide rather than a conventional earthquake.
Scientists now believe a glacial collapse and debris flow triggered the devastating surge of water, mud and rock.
The flood swept through settlements and damaged vital infrastructure on both sides of the border. In Tibet, Chinese state media reported deaths and hundreds of missing people after a mudslide near Gyirong.
Rescue operations remain underway as authorities continue searching for survivors and missing tourists.
