Rescue teams across the Himalayan region are searching for thousands of people reported missing after a massive glacier collapse triggered severe flash flooding along the Nepal-China border.
The deluge, which struck near the Gyirong crossing point on Wednesday, has killed more than 800 people across both countries, according to official figures, while more than 3,000 others remain unaccounted for.
The disaster has also affected a large number of foreign nationals, The Guardian reported on Monday.
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Chinese officials said hundreds of citizens from more than 20 countries were missing on the Chinese side of the border.
The figure includes 15 British nationals, bringing the number of missing Britons across Nepal and Tibet to nearly 50.
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Among the missing Britons in Nepal are two sisters who disappeared while on a pilgrimage near the international bridge.
Tibetan authorities also reported missing nationals from India, Latvia, the United States and Nepal. However, authorities have reported conflicting figures on the number of missing people.
US officials have disputed China’s figures, saying the number of missing American citizens is significantly higher than reported.
US representatives attributed the difficulty in establishing an accurate figure to damaged infrastructure and the extreme remoteness of the affected border region.
Concerns have also emerged over media restrictions and possible underreporting of casualties by Chinese authorities.
In Nepal, authorities have confirmed nearly 800 deaths and thousands of injuries. Rescue teams on both sides of the border continue to face major challenges, including landslides, severe weather and difficulties identifying the locations of victims when the flooding occurred.
Nepalese authorities have urged residents returning to affected communities to remain alert to the risk of further flooding and prepare to evacuate at short notice. Governments and aid agencies have stepped up relief operations.
China has deployed more than 2,000 emergency workers, allocated over 200 million yuan in relief funds, and sent military personnel equipped with life-detection technology to assist in the search efforts.
Authorities have also used aircraft to deliver emergency supplies to affected communities.International assistance has also begun to reach the region.
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The United Kingdom has deployed specialist personnel to Nepal and pledged £5 million in aid, while the United States and Australia have committed millions of dollars in emergency funding, humanitarian assistance and long-term food supplies for thousands of displaced households.
