British Tourists Among Hundreds Missing After Nepal Floods Turn Himalayan Route Into 'Liquid Concrete'

Hundreds of tourists, including at least 33 British nationals, are missing after flash floods and landslides struck Nepal's Himalayan border region near Tibet, killing at least 157 people. A hydrologist described the torrent of water and mud as moving like 'liquid concrete' through mountain valleys.

Nepal police said 579 tourists had been reported missing, including 466 foreign nationals from 28 countries. Chinese state media reported three further deaths and 265 people missing after a mudslide struck the Gyirong area of Tibet, while severe weather and damaged infrastructure have hampered rescue efforts.

Among the missing British nationals is a group of 12 travelling towards Mount Kailash with tour operator Alpine Eco Trek. The group lost contact with four Nepali guides after they were expected to reach a Tibetan immigration office, and an attempted helicopter rescue was prevented by poor weather. The UK Foreign Office said it was working with Nepalese authorities and urged people in affected areas to follow local guidance.

British Trekking Group Loses Contact

The group, aged between 13 and 65, was travelling with four Nepali guides when the flooding struck Rasuwa district, north of Kathmandu, on Wednesday morning.

Kumar Adhikari, manager of Alpine Eco Trek, told the Press Association that he had been in contact with the guides until about 8:40am local time, when they were expected to reach a Tibetan immigration office. Their phone and satellite communications were subsequently lost.

The company said it had attempted to arrange a rescue helicopter, but poor weather prevented it from flying. Mr Adhikari said he had provided the British consulate with copies of the missing travellers' passports and was continuing to work with authorities.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he was 'deeply concerned' by the reports and that his thoughts were with those affected and the relatives of British nationals in the area.

Floodwaters Swept Through Villages

The flooding sent water, mud and debris through valleys, damaging homes, roads and bridges. Nepalese authorities have been carrying out search-and-rescue operations, while China has also deployed rescuers to the affected border area.

Hydrologist Hatim Sharif of the University of Texas at San Antonio told AFP that the lack of heavy rainfall before the flooding made the event particularly difficult for conventional warning systems to detect. He said the mixture of water and mud moved like 'liquid concrete,' leaving little time to escape once the surge arrived.

Authorities have warned that blockages upstream could release further surges, with flood alerts issued in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as officials assess the risk downstream.

Landslide Believed To Have Triggered Surge

Initial reports suggested an earthquake may have triggered the disaster. However, the US Geological Survey said later analysis indicated that the seismic energy came from a landslide.

Researchers from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said their preliminary assessment suggested a rock-ice avalanche occurred in Nepal, blocking the Lhende River before the obstruction gave way and sent water and debris downstream.

The precise sequence remains under investigation. Scientists have warned that changing conditions in the high Himalayas can increase the risk of landslides and other mountain hazards, although it is too early to establish a direct link between climate change and this disaster.

Search teams continue to look for missing people on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border as families and governments await information on those still unaccounted for.