Key facts
- A British national was among 119 people rescued in Nepal on Tuesday.
- Deadly flash floods occurred on the Nepal-Tibet border.
- Over 1,050 people have died in Nepal and 66 in Tibet.
- More than 4,000 people remain missing.
- The disaster is believed to have been triggered by a glacier collapse.
- Thirty-six British nationals are reported missing.
A British national was among 119 people rescued in Nepal on Tuesday, nearly a week after devastating flash floods on the country's border with Tibet. An army spokesperson confirmed the rescue of 118 Nepali nationals and one British male during ongoing search operations.
The floods, believed to have been triggered by a large glacier collapse in the Himalayas, have resulted in at least 1,050 confirmed deaths in Nepal and 66 in Tibet, with over 4,000 people still missing. Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated that 11,000 people have been rescued overall, including 330 foreign nationals.
Search and rescue crews are facing dangerous conditions as they navigate unstable terrain and flood debris. Efforts are currently concentrated on reaching approximately 600 workers believed to be trapped inside tunnels at several hydropower stations in the region.
UK Foreign Office minister Stewart Wood informed the House of Lords that 36 British nationals are missing, an increase from previous figures. A UK rapid deployment rescue team arrived in Nepal on Saturday to assist Britons and their families, as part of a £5 million government commitment to relief efforts. The Red Cross estimates that 93,000 people have been directly impacted by the disaster.
Scientists have linked such extreme weather events to the climate crisis, noting that rising temperatures make previously ice-bound regions increasingly unstable. Officials from Nepal, China, and Tibet had met in May to discuss enhancing their joint response to flood and glacier-related hazards.