BBC Breakfast delivered a heartbreaking update on Thursday as 33 Britons were feared missing following a massive mudslide and flash flood in the border region between Nepal and Tibet. The disaster has killed more than 160 people, presenters Charlie Stayt and Sarah Campbell told viewers.
Disaster strikes Nepal's Rasuwa district
The terrifying floods struck on Wednesday, sending a huge surge of water and debris through parts of Nepal's Rasuwa district, close to the border with Tibet. The area lies north of Nepal's capital Kathmandu and is popular with tourists, trekkers and pilgrims travelling towards Mount Kailash, meaning hundreds of foreign nationals are also feared to be missing.
Homes were engulfed, roads disappeared beneath the torrent and bridges were ripped apart as the flood swept through the region. Rescue crews battled through the night to find survivors.
International response and aid pledges
Charlie told viewers: “Good Morning. Our main story today, rescue teams have been working through the night to locate survivors after a massive mudslide in the border region between Nepal and Tibet. More than 160 people killed and hundreds still missing including 33 from the UK.”
Sarah continued with further details, saying: “A flood struck in the Rasuwa district north of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. The United States has promised half a million dollars in aid, which will be put towards emergency shelter, water and sanitation.”
Helicopters have been sent into some of the worst-hit areas as rescuers attempt to reach people stranded by the destruction. The scale of the devastation has made the operation incredibly difficult, with roads and other routes into the affected communities badly damaged.
Families face agonising wait
Families around the world are now facing an agonising wait for news as authorities attempt to establish exactly how many people remain trapped or missing. The disaster has also left communities on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border dealing with the aftermath, with further concerns about dangerous conditions in the region.
Nepal's prime minister said the catastrophe had left the entire country “shocked and deeply distressed”, while officials pledged to work with China during the response. The British government has also said it will do everything it can to support UK nationals affected by the disaster. As rescue crews continue searching through the devastation, the number of casualties is expected to rise.
BBC Breakfast airs everyday from 6am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
