Nepal earthquake: Foreign Office 'actively investigating' claims second Briton among the dead
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Version 0 of 1. A second Briton is feared dead in the worst earthquake to strike Nepal in more than 80 years. The 7.8 earthquake, which struck the mountainous country on Saturday, has devastated Nepal killing more than 5,200 people and injuring as many as 10,000. Among the dead is an unidentified non-UK resident Briton, believed to be living in Hong Kong. Last night the Foreign Office was “actively investigating” claims that another Briton had been killed at Everest Base Camp, a spokesperson told The Independent. Climbers and Sherpa’s were among the fatalities of the earthquake after an avalanche, caused by the quake, swept through Everest Base Camp 1 killing 19. Dozens of Britons remain unaccounted for in the chaos following the quake as Nepalese emergency services struggle to cope amid limited international aid. Despite difficulties, around 120 Britons arrived home last night and were greeted by their relieved families at London Stansted. Among those still stranded in Nepal is British student Susannah Ross, 20, from Bath, who was trekking in Langtang valley in Northern Nepal when the quake struck. Her sister Nina said that the group was still urgently awaiting rescue as other nationalities were airlifted out when their embassies paid for helicopters. “We really need pressure on the embassies, on any kind of charities, on anyone, to get helicopters out there,” she told the Times. Ms Ross continued: “The British embassy hasn’t paid for helicopters to get Susannah out and that means that she’s been left there.” Meanwhile, international aid was only just starting to trickle into remote Nepalese villages and settlements which are feared to have been among the worst affected by the quake. The country’s poor infrastructure has impeded aid efforts from the first with growing dissatisfaction – and lack of safe water, food and shelter – stoking fears of riots in the capital in the past day. |