International community joins rescue effort after Nepal-China flood

As the death toll following flash floods at the Nepal-China border climbs to 360, the international community is coming together to aid rescue efforts.

At least 1500 individuals are still unaccounted for, among them tourists from some 30 different nations visiting the region's famed pilgrimage sites and trekking trails.

A glacier collapse that triggered massive flash floods in the area bordering Syabrubesi in Rasuwa District in Nepal and Gyirong County and port in Xizang, also known as Tibet, leaving in its trail death and destruction.

At a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian says relevant Chinese authorities have activated a national level-II emergency response for disaster relief, while the Xizang Autonomous Region has activated a level-I emergency response for natural disasters.

Rescue forces from the military, armed police, border inspection, firefighting, and other relevant departments have rushed to the affected area at the earliest possible time, to join ongoing search and rescue operations.

He says nearly 100 Chinese citizens are missing on the Nepal side, where hundreds more tourists are unaccounted for at the popular tourist destination of Langtang National Park and the Langtang Valley trekking region as they head towards Xizang's sacred pilgrim site of Mount Kailash.

Across the border in Nepal, authorities continue the search for survivors, as the tourism board confirms among those missing include tourists from some 30 nations. Those fortunate enough to escape are sent to hospital.

The international community is joining in on rescue efforts as local authorities race against the clock to search for those missing. South Korea has sent a rapid response team to Nepal to support search and rescue efforts for nine South Korean nationals who remain unaccounted for.

Australian authorities say 34 nationals are missing in both Nepal and China, and is deploying crisis response experts to help. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says his government has offered search and rescue personnel to aid relief efforts and is also putting financial support on the table. According to the Nepalese tourism board. 33 British nationals are among the missing.

Indian authorities say 288 from the country are missing, many of whom were visiting pilgrims. Two aircraft with humanitarian assistance have been sent to Kathmandu.