Thank you for subscribing!

Nepal's tourism board has confirmed that 644 tourists remain out of contact, with 33 UK nationals among the missing

King Charles has declared that he and Queen Camilla are "heartbroken" by the catastrophic flash flooding along the Nepal-China border, which has left 33 British nationals among hundreds unaccounted for and feared dead.

The monarch also paid tribute to police and military personnel who perished during rescue operations, praising their "courageous duty in the service of others."

In a statement, the King said: "My wife and I are heartbroken to hear of the devastating flooding that has struck the Nepal-China border.

“Many in the United Kingdom have strong, deep and personal ties to this part of the world. We send our most profound sympathy to all those who have so tragically lost their loved ones and we feel deeply for the many families awaiting anxiously the news of friends and relations."

The Prince and Princess of Wales said in a separate statement: "The scale of the devastation along the Nepal-China border is shocking. We are thinking of everyone caught up in this terrible disaster.

"Our thoughts are especially with the families facing an unbearable wait for news and with the communities confronting such immense loss. We are incredibly grateful to all those working in such dangerous conditions to rescue people and support those affected."

The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse on Wednesday, has been described by officials as "devastation beyond imagination."

Bishal Nath Upreti, a geologist at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, characterised the event as "one of the largest disasters in Nepal," with the collapse releasing approximately 20 million cubic metres of excess water.

Floodwaters surging to heights of between 300 and 650 feet tore through the region. The death toll stands at a minimum of 353, with close to 1,500 people still unaccounted for.

Nepal's tourism board has confirmed that 644 tourists remain out of contact, with 33 UK nationals among the missing.

Nepal's Prime Minister Walendra Shah toured some of the worst-hit areas in the Nuwakot district on Thursday, ordering authorities to prioritise aid for displaced families and the restoration of blocked roads and damaged infrastructure.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed £5 million in aid and extended an offer to deploy emergency responders to the stricken region, though he noted this would be subject to approval from the Nepalese government.

Speaking during a visit to South Wales, Mr Burnham 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."

Consular support staff are being sent to the area to ensure British nationals can access assistance around the clock.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that a number of UK citizens are believed to be missing, pledging full support for their families during what he described as "a very distressing and devastating situation."

Mr Burnham vowed that Britain "will be there for Nepal in its hour of need right now."

The threat of a second catastrophic flood event now looms over the region.

By Thursday morning, the volume of water in the lake had reached two million cubic metres, with the lake already overflowing.

A further three million cubic metres of water is expected to flow into the lake within the next three days, placing the dam at serious risk of failure and potentially inundating the area once more.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development has issued a detailed assessment warning that enormous quantities of debris swept into river systems could create perilous blockages.

Specialists are currently evaluating whether the Trishuli River has been obstructed at narrow points, which could result in a landslide dam forming and unleashing yet another devastating flood.

Among the missing British nationals is a 13-year-old girl who had been on a pilgrimage, according to tour operator Alpine Eco Trek.

The group also includes three men aged 52, 64 and 65, along with seven women ranging in age from 44 to 65.

Four Nepalese guides employed by the company, aged between 29 and 45, are also unaccounted for.

Kumar Adhikari, the firm's manager, told the Press Association: "I feel so sad. We are just thinking about what to do next. We are in pain at the moment, deep pain."

The group had been undertaking a nine-day expedition to Mount Kailash and were crossing into Tibet when the floods struck.