Nepal earthquake death toll passes 3,800 as dozens of Britons remain missing: latest

Footage emerges of avalanche triggered by earthquake hitting Everest base camp, as death toll passes 3,800 and up to 72 Britons still unaccounted for - follow latest updates

• Everest avalanche: Up to 100 people feared stranded
• Video: Moment avalanche hits Everest mountaineers
• Death toll rises to 3,726 as Queen sends condolences
• British couple caught in Nepal earthquake describe running for their lives
• Massive earthquake hits Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, in pictures
• DEC appeal launched - 0370 60 60 900 and website dec.org.uk

Latest
13.30
China cancelled all spring climbs on the north face of Mount Everest, state media said on Monday, after an earthquake in neighbouring Nepal triggered a deadly avalanche elsewhere on the world's highest mountain.
My sister is climbing Mount Everest and very luckily she is at a place that is the last camp before you get to Base Camp 1 on the south side, and there was only four of them left at that camp because my sister was suffering so badly from altitude sickness she didn't walk up to Base Camp - which actually, potentially, might have saved her life.

I think they rushed out when the earthquake came and rushed back in because they were affected by an avalanche partly at the camp they were in ... and I think they were going to make their way down this morning.

12.54
Britons who were attempting to climb Everest from within Tibet have been reported safe, writes Ben Farmer.

A small number of Britons were also attempting to climb Everest from the Tibetan side. The Foreign Office said all of these had been accounted for.

A spokesman said: "We are aware of a small number of British Mountain climbers in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. We have been informed by the Chinese authorities that all have been accounted for and are in a place of safety."

The Gurkha Welfare Trust, which looks after former British Army veterans in Nepal, said all its staff are safe and well after the earthquake and are now checking on the welfare of the veterans.

The Trust looks after more than 6,600 former Gurkha soldiers. The earthquake struck an area which has traditionally supplied many of the Gurkhas recruits and many of the former soldiers return to remote villages after they have served.


Sadly 3 more Sherpas died in the Icefall yesterday and were evacuated by helicopter this morning. They died in a subsequent avalanche after the Earthquake. The blast took out most of the ladders in the icefall. These brave men are the unsung heroes of #Everest and ultimately lost their lives doing a job that supports their children, wives, families and community. My heart continues to weep. When will it all end? #nepalquake #Nepal #6summitschallenge #Mission14 #BeBrave #Everest2015
A photo posted by Elia Saikaly (@eliasaikaly) on Apr 27, 2015 at 4:43am PDT
12.40
The UK International Search and Rescue team had to be diverted to Delhi before travelling on to Nepal.

The 15-strong crew will provide specialised, technical search and rescue assistance in collapsed structures. Spokesman Roy Wilsher said:

Our team is well on its way to Nepal and they will be using their specialist equipment, skills and knowledge in a bid to help locate and rescue people affected in Nepal.

The earthquake has devastated Nepal and we want to ensure we are doing everything we can to help. The team which has gone out are all highly trained professionals who will be offering as much assistance in the rescue endeavour on the ground as they possibly can.

12.26
Two RAF transport aircraft are expected to fly from Brize Norton with emergency supplies later this afternoon.

The C17 and Hercules will carry supplies from the Department for International Development. Military liaison teams will also be on board.


Nepalese army personnel and a sniffer dog search for victims amidst the rubble of collapsed houses after in Bhaktapur (REUTERS)

12.25
Restoring clean water supplies to prevent diseases such as Cholera is now a priority, said the Red Cross.

There are reports of sewerage systems breaking down due to lack of electricity and pipes and wells can be broken up by the quake, contaminating water supplies.

A spokesman said teams with water purification equipment were on their way.

She said: "It is a worry when you have a lot of people sleeping out in the open and not able to go home. Things like bathroom sanitation become a real concern."



12.18
The death toll from the earthquake could have been even higher if it had not taken place on a Saturday, as this image of a school building shows:

west point school, thankot. Thank god it was Saturday when quake hit Nepal #NepalQuake pic.twitter.com/v44SWD7ZTn

— A-Mason (@anpmsn) April 27, 2015
12.14
A DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) joint charity appeal has been announced for the Nepal earthquake.

Leading UK aid agencies said money raised will support the efforts of DEC members to reach families affected by Saturday’s 7.8 quake which struck west of the capital Kathmandu.