Nepal earthquake: Red Cross establishes website to trace missing relatives in quake
Much of the country is without power as residents and tourists rely on private generators and car batteries to charge phones
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The International Committee of the Red Cross has established a website attempting to help relatives trace family members caught up in Nepal’s earthquake, listing up to 72 Britons as among those still unaccounted for.
The mountainous nation was struck over the weekend by the worst quake in 80 years. The quake has so far claimed more than 3,600 lives – but officials warn the toll may climb as the true extent of the damage is revealed.
On the Nepal Earthquake Restoring Family Links website, individuals can search through a database of 900 names by surname.
In a statement yesterday, Philip Hammond, the British Foreign Secretary, said: “British Embassy staff are on the ground and have provided practical help to around 200 British nationals."
Adding that they believed there were "several hundred" Britons in Nepal, he continued: "Damage to communications infrastructure caused by the earthquakes is making it difficult to contact people who may have been trekking in remote areas so it may be some time before we, working with the tour companies, are able to identify who is in Nepal and to account for them."
The Red Cross website is another innovative attempt to help those anxious for news contact relatives. Other examples have seen Facebook sending updates to friends and Viber and Vodafone offering customers free calls.
Many survivors have so far been unable to reassure their families as Nepal’s infrastructure buckles under the natural disaster.
Reports from the capital Kathmandu indicate much of the city remains without electricity – a situation aid agencies warn will only worsen as the days continue – with many residents sharing car batteries and private generators in order to contact friends.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments