Key facts
- At least 538 people have died in flash floods in Nepal and Tibet.
- 33 British nationals are among over 1,500 people missing.
- Families of missing Britons are traveling to Nepal to aid the search.
- A potential second wave of flooding is feared due to rising glacial lakes.
- Rescue operations have been suspended due to safety concerns.
Families are traveling to Nepal to search for 33 British nationals who remain missing following devastating flash floods that struck Nepal and Tibet. The catastrophic floods have killed at least 538 people, with over 1,500 still unaccounted for, including hundreds of foreign tourists visiting the popular mountainous region.
Relatives of the missing Britons are desperately trying to reach their loved ones, many of whom were last seen in the Rasuwa district where power and communication lines are down. Many are scrambling to book flights to Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital.
Authorities in Nepal and China have issued warnings about the risk of a second wave of flooding. An artificial lake formed by a mudslide near the Tibet-Nepal border, and another lake formed by debris blocking a river at the flood site, are both rising and at risk of bursting, potentially sending more flood waters downstream.
Rescuers have suspended their search for survivors due to safety concerns, and residents who had returned to Rasuwa have been told to evacuate. Several tour operators have confirmed groups of Britons are missing, including a party of 12 aged 13 to 65 on a tour to Mount Kailash, and seven UK nationals traveling with Kailash Journeys.
The Non-Resident Nepali Association in the UK has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to support efforts. One nurse and president of the association described the situation as an "irreplaceable loss" for Nepal and stated the country was "paying the price for global warming."