33 U.K. nationals missing after deadly Nepal flash floods, authorities say

At least 33 U.K. nationals are among hundreds of tourists still unaccounted for after flash floods and mudslides tore through a Himalayan valley on the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday, according to Nepalese police.

Officials described the early-morning deluge near Rasuwa, just north of Kathmandu, as a "glacial collapse and debris flow" that sent a wall of mud and water into settlements and transport routes. The disaster has killed at least 157 people in Nepal and three in neighboring Tibet, Chinese state media reported.

Nepal Police said 579 tourists remain missing, including 466 foreign nationals from 28 countries. Among the missing are 113 Nepalese nationals, 54 U.S. citizens and 33 U.K. nationals.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said he was in touch with local authorities and would "do everything we can" to support British nationals affected. He urged those in the region to follow guidance from local authorities and to consult U.K. travel advice.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said it was working closely with Nepalese authorities after "concerning reports" that British nationals were missing, and encouraged Britons to remain alert to the changing situation.

Adventure operator Alpine Eco Trek, which runs guided expeditions to Mount Kailash, told the BBC it had not been able to contact a group of 12 British clients who were in the area when the flood struck. The company said it had tried to charter a rescue helicopter and would continue supporting rescue efforts on Thursday. Its travel logs, shared with the Press Association, show the missing British clients range in age from 13 to 65.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he was "deeply concerned" by the floods and wrote on social media: "All my thoughts are with those affected and with British nationals in the area and their relatives here at home."

In a joint statement with Australia, the European Union, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland, the U.K. embassy in Nepal called on British nationals to exercise caution in affected areas.

Homes in Nepal's Nuwakot district were left covered in mud, according to Reuters. The flood hit early Wednesday in Rasuwa, triggering a landslide. Preliminary information suggested an earthquake, but the U.S. Geological Survey said additional analysis indicated the seismic energy was instead generated by a landslide. It recorded a magnitude 5.2 seismic event caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow near the border at 08:37 local time.

CCTV footage showed a wall of water and mud hitting buildings near a border crossing. Video filmed from inside a bus in Trishuli captured dozens of people trying to flee the surge as it swept through the valley.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said a mudslide in Tibet's Gyirong area killed three people and left 265 missing, with rescue efforts under way.

The disaster is a stark reminder of Nepal's exposure to glacial hazards. Scientists have warned that rising temperatures are increasing the likelihood of glacial lake outburst floods across the Himalayas. The affected corridor is a popular route for trekkers and pilgrims traveling between Nepal and Tibet, and the disruption is likely to affect tourism and cross-border movement as authorities assess damage to roads and border infrastructure.