Nepal earthquake: Eight Britons rescued from mountainside monastery a week after earthquake, as death toll rises to 7,000
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Version 0 of 1. Eight Brits that were stranded in a monastery in Nepal were airlifted to safety yesterday, a week after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country, killing more than 7,000 people. The group are are returning home to the UK after a rescue team from the Department for International Development (Dfid) chartered an RAF C-17 helicopter to the mountainside retreat in Bihi, near Lho. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "Eight British nationals have been rescued. They went straight to Kathmandu they have been taken to the airport and have subsequently departed Nepal." The British Embassy has said that around 540 British nationals have now left Nepal since the Earthquake. Justine Greening, Britain’s international development secretary, said: “The quick thinking and swift action of Dfid’s team means eight British nationals are now safe and well and saved from what could have been a life or death situation. “The Dfid team in Nepal are working tirelessly to help all those affected by the earthquake, and of course that includes the British nationals caught up in this disaster. “We can be proud of everything the UK is doing to help Nepal, whether it is our government aid flights, the work of British charities on the ground, or the generous public donations to the DEC Appeal.” Greening added: “The arrival of our specialist heavy lifting equipment will allow Kathmandu airport to unload aid cargo much more quickly and speed up the delivery of aid supplies across Nepal.” More than 6,000 people have been killed and 14,000 injured in the worst earthquake in the worst earthquake the country has seen in 80 years. One Briton has been confirmed dead, a married father of three who lived in Hong Kong, 42 year old dual national Hemchandra Rai. Reports of a second Briton killed at base camp are still being investigated. John Rankin, Britain’s ambassador to Nepal, said: “This continues to be a major disaster, and logistics and communications in Nepal remain very difficult. Our priorities remain to provide assistance to British nationals and much needed shelter, medical supplies, water and sanitation for the people of Nepal. “We understand this is a very difficult time for people back home still waiting for news of their loved ones.” Additional reporting by PA |