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A mudslide hit a border land crossing between Nepal and Tibet
Andy Burnham has said the UK has offered £5million to help the Nepalese government amid a "very distressing and devastating situation" following flash floods.
The Prime Minister told reporters an offer had also been made for emergency responders to head to the affected area.
Thirty-three British citizens, including a 13-year-old girl, are missing following the extreme flash flooding in Nepal.
A 14-year-old boy is also among the missing British nationals as the total number of missing people rose from 403 to 826.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to South Wales, the Prime Minister said: "It’s a devastating picture that is emerging from what has happened in Nepal.
"Scenes that we’ve never seen the like before, I don’t think, certainly the scale of the devastation.
"So there is immediate action being taken. We are deploying consular support staff to the region so that British nationals will be able to access support 24/7.
"An offer has been made of emergency responders to head to the region but that’s obviously a matter for the Nepalese government.
"But also we’ve offered £5million to help with that response effort," Mr Burnham added.
"Obviously, there are a number of British nationals who currently are thought to be missing and we’ll be providing all the support we can to their families in what is a very distressing and devastating situation."
A wall of mud and rock appeared to collapse into a river on the Himalayan border between Nepal and Tibet, triggering catastrophic flooding on the Nepali side.
Speaking to GB News this morning, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: It's an appalling and devastating situation.
"Anybody who saw the pictures yesterday of that wall of water and mud sweeping away buildings, people and everything in its path. We are doing everything we can to help the Nepalese authorities."
"They've said there are currently 33 UK citizens missing. It's a dynamic situation. It's possible that figure could grow. My colleague, the Foreign Secretary, has posted two phone numbers on the Foreign Office website and social media for concerned families.
"We know that families will be desperate for information. We'll get all the information we can to the families, and as a government, we will do everything we can to support the Nepalese authorities in the rescue effort that is underway."
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 165 bodies have so far been recovered following flooding in the Rasuwa district, which borders China’s autonomous region of Tibet.
Footage posted online showed dozens of people swept away at the border, with authorities on both the Chinese and Nepalese sides fearing far higher casualties and massive destruction.
Houses, roads and power projects were swept away in Nepal, while officials in Tibet said they feared "major casualties" with some missing in the county of Gyirong after a mudslide hit a border land crossing.
Rescue helicopters could not land in Nepal's affected areas of Syapru Besi and Timure in the mountainous district of Rasuwa, with a population of about 50,000, officials said, with the river flowing above its normal course.
The British embassy in Kathmandu said it is "deeply saddened" and urged people in affected areas to follow local advice.
A joint statement with the embassies of Australia, the EU, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland said: "We are deeply saddened by the devastating flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and surrounding areas.
"Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster. We express our solidarity with the people of Nepal during this difficult time.
"We encourage all those in affected areas to follow the guidance of local authorities and official safety advisories as the situation continues to evolve."






