Nepal earthquake: Foreign Office investigating reports Briton is among those killed

Authorities are investigating claims a Briton is among those killed by the Nepalese earthquake.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond today said the Foreign Office was trying to confirm the report.

The news came after the death toll from Saturday's catastrophic earthquake reportedly passed 5,000, with the the country's prime minister telling news agencies it could hit 10,000.

Speaking in London, Mr Hammond said: "We are urgently investigating unconfirmed reports of a non-UK resident British national having been killed and our teams on the ground will report back as soon as they have any further information on that."

Mr Hammond said: "I've spoken to the Nepalese Prime Minister this morning to assure him of our commitment to see what other assistance Nepal urgently needs."

The Foreign Secretary said a British Army C-17 carrying Gurkha engineers and equipment, and a Department for International Development charter flight with further supplies, were en route to the capital, Kathmandu, and "will be in and operating as soon as possible".

He added: "In the meantime, we have already got some UK personnel in on other flights and there are 60 British personnel, search and rescue teams and other experts already on the ground delivering assistance."