British death in Nepal earthquake confirmed

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Rescue efforts are continuing in the wake of the disaster, which has claimed more than 5,000 lives

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A Briton living overseas is among the 5,000 victims of the Nepal earthquake, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond did not name the person, who had dual nationality, but said they had been living in Hong Kong.

He said the government was also "urgently investigating" reports a further British national had been killed at the Everest base camp.

Meanwhile an appeal for the disaster's victims has raised more than £19m.

'Around the clock'

It is the first confirmed death of a Briton in Saturday's earthquake, but about 30 British or Irish families are still waiting to hear from relatives.

Mr Hammond said some 120 British nationals would be flown home this evening from Nepal.

He said he had just chaired a meeting of the government's emergency COBRA committee and that aircraft leaving the UK carrying aid would return to Stansted bringing people home "sometime during the evening".

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said more UK nationals would be brought home on military flights

He said more UK nationals would be brought home on military flights flying to Kathmandu with relief supplies over the next few days.

Teams from the UK are in the country looking for British people "around the clock", he said.

Mr Hammond previously estimated there had been 500-1,000 British nationals in Nepal but there was "no single co-ordinated list".

The 7.8 quake has claimed more than 5,000 lives.

The Foreign Office has not named the British victim but said it was providing consular assistance to the family.

Meanwhile, the British public has donated more than £19m to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Earthquake Appeal, a day after it was launched with a TV appeal presented by actress Joanna Lumley.

The DEC is an umbrella organisation which brings together 13 British aid charities to deal with international crises and has launched a website and donation line.

UK emergency response

Eight million people have been affected by the disaster, according to the UN, and Nepal's prime minister Sushil Koirala has said the death toll could eventually double to more than 10,000.

A team of more than 60 international search and rescue responders and specialist rescue dogs from the UK have arrived, with some already operating on the ground and travelling out of the capital to more remote areas, the Department for International Development said.

They are drawn from 15 fire and rescue services from across the UK and have expertise in finding deeply-buried victims, constructing timber supports to safely shore up buildings and providing advanced life support.

w Delhi: The Indian Army said on Tuesday that it will continue with its major relief and rescue operation in quake-hit Nepal till the situation becomes normal.

Since an earthquake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale hit Nepal on Saturday, the Army has rushed medical and engineering teams along with equipment and even reached the epicentre.

"We are committed to help Nepal... We will provide assistance till the time it is required," said Additional Director General Military Operations Major General Ranbir Singh.

The Army, which has some 30,000 ex-servicemen in Nepal and around 38,000 serving Gorkhas with 25,000-28,000 hailing from Nepal, will also use the Gorkhas to facilitate relief work.

Gen Singh said several Gorkha officers from affected areas had been sent to assist the relief and rescue operations.

"They have reached far-flung corners and are sending inputs. There are also many soldiers who had gone home for holiday. We are trying to contact them so they can also help," the officer said.

He did not say how many Indian soldiers will go to Nepal, saying it was a "continuous process".

"Some are already there, some are on way... We cannot give numbers."

The Indian Army, which has close ties with Nepal, has repeatedly pledged to help the people of Nepal.

Army Chief General Dalbir Singh, who belongs to the Gorkha Regiment, is also the Honorary Chief of the Nepalese Army. He spoke to his Nepalese counterpart, General SJB. Rana, after the devastating earthquake.

The officer said Army teams had reached the remotest parts of Nepal, including the epicentre of the quake.

A 45-bed hospital and three field hospitals with 18 medical teams were functional in different areas.

Twelve engineering teams with heavy equipment, including earth moving equipment, are also headed to Nepal to clear roads and tonnes of debris.

IANS