Fifteen British nationals are reported to be missing in China, as the search continues for survivors of devastating flooding in Nepal and Tibet. This brings the total number of missing Britons between Tibet and Nepal to 48, following 33 previously declared missing on the Nepal side of the border.
Nepali and Chinese authorities confirmed an updated death toll of at least 810 on Sunday. More than 3,000 people are believed missing after flash floods, caused by a massive glacier collapse in the Himalayas on Wednesday, engulfed Gyirong port on the Nepal-China border.
The 15 missing British people in China are among 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries. The Tibet autonomous region’s government stated that the total missing there also includes 104 Nepalis, 49 people from India, 33 from Latvia, and 18 from the US.
Rescue efforts have been affected by the threat of landslides, dangerous weather, and confusion over the location of victims when the waters struck. Chinese authorities have mobilised over 2,100 rescue workers and allocated more than 220m yuan (£24m) to support relief efforts.
Britain has committed £5m to Nepal and sent a rapid deployment team, which arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said they are working to support British nationals and their families, coordinating with Nepali and Chinese authorities, and have deployed consular support staff.