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The King and Queen Camilla have expressed their deep sorrow over the tragic flash floods that occurred near the Nepal-Tibet border, which have left 33 people from the UK missing, including a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. Reflecting on the disaster, the Prince and Princess of Wales also shared their shock, stating that their thoughts are with everyone affected by this devastating event.
According to Nepali authorities, the floods have claimed at least 359 lives, with more than 1,300 people still unaccounted for. Among those missing are 644 tourists. The UK government has responded with a £5 million aid offer to assist Nepal in managing this crisis, described by Prime Minister Andy Burnham as a “very distressing and devastating situation.” King Charles conveyed his “most profound sympathy to all those who have so tragically lost their loved ones,” acknowledging the strong personal connections many in the UK have to the region.
The British government, including the Prime Minister and the Foreign Office, has called on people to adhere to local instructions and to remain vigilant due to warnings of a possible second flood near the Bhote Koshi river. The Foreign Office is actively collaborating with Nepali officials to monitor and assist with the ongoing situation. Meanwhile, individuals with links to Nepal have shared their harrowing experiences; for example, Pramod Pudel, a British resident originally from Nepal, spoke of the destruction in his family’s hometown and described his urgency to return in hopes of locating missing relatives amid disrupted communication and widespread infrastructure damage.
Others affected have echoed similar accounts of loss and uncertainty. Essex nurse Rajendra Pudasaini reported family members swept away by the floodwaters, while Barun Lamichhane, a Nepalese man living in Aberdeen, revealed that several relatives perished, though his immediate family survived by crawling to safety on a hillside. Families continue to wait anxiously for news, such as Tatajana Phillips from Folkestone, whose sister, Julija Jakovicka, was last known to be near the flood-affected border area for a yoga retreat shortly before the disaster struck.
Various tour operators organizing trips to sacred sites in the region have reported missing British nationals. Alpine Eco Trek indicated it has lost contact with 12 Britons on a Mount Kailash tour, including a 13-year-old girl and four Nepali guides. The Trekkers’ Society stated that nine UK nationals on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash remain unaccounted for. Other companies including Himalayan Glacier US, Kailash Journeys, and Fishtail Tours have also reported missing UK citizens among their groups. The flash flood occurred early Wednesday in Rasuwa, north of Kathmandu. Initial reports speculated an earthquake triggered the event; however, the US Geological Survey clarified that a seismic event was caused by a “glacial collapse and debris flow,” registering as a magnitude 5.2 incident at 08:37 local time near the Nepal-Tibet border
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