The United Kingdom's ambassador to Afghanistan stayed in Kabul amid the Taliban takeover to help people flee the country.

The Foreign Office told I News that ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow helped process visa applications and organize the evacuation of British citizens from Afghanistan.

"We have reduced our diplomatic presence in response to the situation on the ground, but our ambassador remains in Kabul and UK Government staff continue to work to provide assistance to British nationals and to our Afghan staff," the Foreign Office said. "We are still doing all we can to enable remaining British nationals, who want to leave Afghanistan, to do so."

About 4,000 British nationals and eligible Afghan staff could be evacuated, a diplomatic source told The Telegraph.

Many across Afghanistan are racing to delete past online lives, fearing Taliban retribution, Wired reported. Evidence of progressive lifestyles over the last 20 years has Afghans concerned for punishments. The Taliban retook Afghanistan last weekend in a blitz-style sweep of the country's major cities. 

A photo shows 640 people crammed inside a USAF transport aircraft as they try to escape Kabul. The jet didn't mean to take so many people, but some pulled themselves on, Defense One reported. Audio circulating online seems to reveal an aviation official's reaction to the number of people.

Thousands have fled Kabul in recent days as the Taliban reclaimed power in Afghanistan, and countries are bracing themselves for a mass influx of refugees. The US has said it's looking to take in 30,000 Afghan refugees, while Canada has said it will resettle 20,000. See how other countries are reacting to the crisis.

State-affiliated Chinese tabloid Global Times said Monday in a staff editorial that the chaos in Afghanistan should be a warning for what is in store for Taiwan should the US "abandon" it. 

"The situation in Afghanistan suddenly saw a radical change after the country was abandoned by the US. And Washington just left despite the worsening situation in Kabul. Is this some kind of omen of Taiwan's future fate?" wrote the commentary on Global Times.

The newspaper said Taiwan is similar to Afghanistan in that it relies heavily on US protection. It warned that the US would not come to the island's aid should a military conflict happen, saying the island's defense "will collapse in hours."