UK joins Nepal rescue effort as 33 British citizens missing after deadly flash floods

Heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods and mudslides in Nepal’s remote Rasuwa district, near the Tibet border, on Wednesday morning. The disaster has killed at least 162 people and left 826 others unaccounted for, according to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Among the missing are more than 529 tourists, including 33 British nationals – the youngest a 13‑year‑old girl.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is working closely with Nepali officials to locate the missing Britons. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged governmental support and urged any British travellers still in the region to heed local safety instructions.

The tragedy also affects the South‑Asian diaspora: Indian tourists number between 130 and 133 among those still missing, while dozens of Australians, Americans, Canadians and nationals from Malaysia, South Korea and Japan are also unaccounted for. Rescue teams continue to battle deteriorating weather, which hampers relief operations.

The incident underscores the need for heightened vigilance when traveling to high‑risk mountainous areas during the monsoon season, and it may prompt travel advisories from both UK and Indian foreign ministries.