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Nepal disaster: Anxious wait for families of UK trekkers | Nepal disaster: Anxious wait for families of UK trekkers |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Friends and relatives of Britons trekking in Nepal are anxiously waiting for news after storms and avalanches hit the Himalayas. | Friends and relatives of Britons trekking in Nepal are anxiously waiting for news after storms and avalanches hit the Himalayas. |
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. |
Others are missing and a Facebook page has been set up in an attempt to help find them. | Others are missing and a Facebook page has been set up in an attempt to help find them. |
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. |
'Completely out of touch' | 'Completely out of touch' |
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. |
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. | |
"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." | |
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. | |
Stranded | |
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. |
One British climber, who had been missing, has now been in touch with friends. | One British climber, who had been missing, has now been in touch with friends. |
She said she had been "out of reach due to poor [internet] signal", according to posts on her Facebook page. | She said she had been "out of reach due to poor [internet] signal", according to posts on her Facebook page. |