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Nepal disaster: Relief as some UK trekkers make contact | Nepal disaster: Relief as some UK trekkers make contact |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Relatives of Britons missing in Nepal after snowstorms hit have spoken of their relief that some have made contact to say they are safe. | Relatives of Britons missing in Nepal after snowstorms hit have spoken of their relief that some have made contact to say they are safe. |
Amanda Vardy said she had received the good news in an email from a tour company her brother, Nigel, was with. | Amanda Vardy said she had received the good news in an email from a tour company her brother, Nigel, was with. |
Christopher Kneale, father of Clare Glazebrook, said he had also heard that his daughter's group was safe. | Christopher Kneale, father of Clare Glazebrook, said he had also heard that his daughter's group was safe. |
Others, who had been on trekking holidays, remain missing and a Facebook page has been set up to help find them. | Others, who had been on trekking holidays, remain missing and a Facebook page has been set up to help find them. |
At least 39 people have died in the storms and 150 have been injured, the Nepali authorities have said. | At least 39 people have died in the storms and 150 have been injured, the Nepali authorities have said. |
Ms Vardy had previously spoken of her concern for her brother who had been in "constant contact with the family" before communications suddenly stopped. | Ms Vardy had previously spoken of her concern for her brother who had been in "constant contact with the family" before communications suddenly stopped. |
But she said she had now received an email which read: "All our team are fine and secure. | But she said she had now received an email which read: "All our team are fine and secure. |
"They safely reached base camp. Don't worry, weather is getting better now." | "They safely reached base camp. Don't worry, weather is getting better now." |
'Drinking whisky' | 'Drinking whisky' |
Ms Vardy said: "The Britons that Nigel was with have all come back safe. | Ms Vardy said: "The Britons that Nigel was with have all come back safe. |
"We will get full confirmation when people have talked to him - so, good news. | "We will get full confirmation when people have talked to him - so, good news. |
"We just need now the 'Nigel is drinking whisky in a tent' and I'll be very happy." | "We just need now the 'Nigel is drinking whisky in a tent' and I'll be very happy." |
Ms Vardy said her family had tried to persuade her brother, who is from Belper in Derbyshire, to give up his ice climbing hobby. | Ms Vardy said her family had tried to persuade her brother, who is from Belper in Derbyshire, to give up his ice climbing hobby. |
On receiving an email that said his daughter Clare was safe, Mr Kneale said: "It is all we have got at the moment. | On receiving an email that said his daughter Clare was safe, Mr Kneale said: "It is all we have got at the moment. |
"We have to trust that. | "We have to trust that. |
"I don't know if they are continuing or coming home, that is up to them." | "I don't know if they are continuing or coming home, that is up to them." |
He said the wait for news had been "horrific". | He said the wait for news had been "horrific". |
The father of a Chesterfield woman in Nepal said he had received an email from a tour company saying she and her husband were safe at base camp. | The father of a Chesterfield woman in Nepal said he had received an email from a tour company saying she and her husband were safe at base camp. |
He said he believed Mr Vardy was with them, although this has not been confirmed. | He said he believed Mr Vardy was with them, although this has not been confirmed. |
An unknown number of other Britons, many of them on trekking holidays, remain missing. | An unknown number of other Britons, many of them on trekking holidays, remain missing. |
'Out of touch' | 'Out of touch' |
A BBC correspondent in Nepal said some people not heard from could be on other trekking routes where they were safe. | A BBC correspondent in Nepal said some people not heard from could be on other trekking routes where they were safe. |
Many would be unable to contact their families even if they were not affected by the storms. | Many would be unable to contact their families even if they were not affected by the storms. |
"Once they are on the mountains they are completely out of touch," BBC correspondent Andrew North said. | "Once they are on the mountains they are completely out of touch," BBC correspondent Andrew North said. |
The Foreign Office said it had no information so far that any Britons were among the casualties. | The Foreign Office said it had no information so far that any Britons were among the casualties. |
It is advising those in the affected area to call their families and to check its online travel advice and social media for updates. | It is advising those in the affected area to call their families and to check its online travel advice and social media for updates. |
A spokesperson said: "We are in close contact with the local authorities, who are managing the rescue operation." | A spokesperson said: "We are in close contact with the local authorities, who are managing the rescue operation." |
Mountaineer Alan Hinkes said many of those caught up in the storms would have been tourists. | Mountaineer Alan Hinkes said many of those caught up in the storms would have been tourists. |
"Normally the weather there is very pleasant. At the moment it must be horrendous. It seems they have been in white-out conditions," he said. | "Normally the weather there is very pleasant. At the moment it must be horrendous. It seems they have been in white-out conditions," he said. |
"If you get caught out in those conditions, which are almost Arctic, you've had it. | "If you get caught out in those conditions, which are almost Arctic, you've had it. |
"There would have been trekkers not knowing what they were letting themselves in for." | "There would have been trekkers not knowing what they were letting themselves in for." |
Stranded | Stranded |
Mr Hinkes said the Nepali authorities needed more helicopters for the rescue effort. | Mr Hinkes said the Nepali authorities needed more helicopters for the rescue effort. |
A total of 282 people have been brought down from the Annapurna mountain range following the storms. | A total of 282 people have been brought down from the Annapurna mountain range following the storms. |
The bad weather hit a resting place 4,500m (14,800ft) above sea level, not far below the circuit's highest point, the Thorung La pass. | The bad weather hit a resting place 4,500m (14,800ft) above sea level, not far below the circuit's highest point, the Thorung La pass. |
Some survivors are thought to be stranded in lodges and huts. | Some survivors are thought to be stranded in lodges and huts. |
A British man who survived the storm claimed people had been "herded to their deaths" by ill-equipped guides. | A British man who survived the storm claimed people had been "herded to their deaths" by ill-equipped guides. |
Paul Sherridan, 49, from Doncaster, said his party should not have been taken up the mountain because of the bad weather forecast. | Paul Sherridan, 49, from Doncaster, said his party should not have been taken up the mountain because of the bad weather forecast. |
Charles Malcolm-Brown, chairman of Cambridge-based charity Mountain Trust, called for "proper government regulation" for trekkers. | |
"There is currently no kind of national weather warning system in Nepal, and safe regulation is urgently needed," he said. |