Fifteen Britons among 261 foreigners missing in China after floods

Fifteen British nationals are among 261 foreign citizens missing in China following catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border, according to officials. The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse in the Himalayas on Wednesday, has left at least 810 people dead and over 3,000 missing across both countries. The floods struck Gyirong port, a key border crossing between Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, submerging surrounding areas under debris and floodwaters.

Chinese authorities report that 48 British citizens are now unaccounted for between Tibet and Nepal, with 15 missing in China and 33 in Nepal. Among those missing in Nepal are two British sisters, Hemangini Jitendra Patel and Hema Sunil Amin, who were last seen on the Friendship Bridge before communications were lost. The total number of missing foreigners in China includes 104 Nepalis, 49 Indians, 33 Latvians, and 18 Americans. The U.S. State Department has disputed China’s missing count, estimating that at least 85 Americans are unaccounted for, citing challenges in verifying information due to the remote and devastated terrain.

At least 16 deaths have been confirmed on the Chinese side of the border, though concerns persist regarding potential underreporting. Chinese state media CCTV announced the deployment of over 2,100 rescue workers and the allocation of more than 220 million yuan (£24 million) to support relief efforts. Rescue teams, including Chinese soldiers equipped with life-detection technology, have been conducting airdrops of supplies and conducting search operations under difficult conditions. Chinese Premier Li Qiang has visited the affected region to oversee response efforts.

In Nepal, police confirmed 794 deaths and over 2,742 injuries, with thousands more feared dead or missing. Rescue operations have been hampered by landslides, severe weather, and confusion over where victims were located when the floods hit. Authorities have urged residents in high-risk areas to remain prepared for further evacuations.

International aid has begun to arrive, with the United States pledging $3.6 million in additional humanitarian support for Nepal, including emergency food assistance for up to 10,000 households. Australia announced over $3 million in assistance, while the United Kingdom committed £5 million and deployed a rapid response team to Kathmandu. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson stated that consular staff are working closely with Nepali and Chinese authorities to provide support to affected British nationals and their families.

The disaster highlights the challenges of cross-border coordination and the need for transparent information sharing during crises of this magnitude.

#NepalFloods #ChinaFloods #MissingBritons #GyirongBorder #HimalayanDisaster #InternationalAid #TibetFloods #HumanitarianCrisis