Dozens of Australians feared among Nepal flash flood missing
Dozens of Australian tourists are reportedly among hundreds of people unaccounted for after deadly flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border. Australia's foreign minister said officials are urgently working to confirm their welfare.
Devastating flash floods that struck border areas of Nepal and Tibet, China, have left hundreds of people unaccounted for, with reports indicating dozens of Australians are among the missing.
According to the Nepal Tourist Board, cited by Agence France-Presse, the number of missing foreigners has risen sharply — from an initial 291 to 403. Among those unaccounted for are 33 UK nationals, 47 Americans, 34 Australians and 24 Canadians. Of the total missing, 203 are male and 200 female.
Government response
Australia's foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) are urgently working to confirm the welfare of Australians in the affected area. She expressed condolences to the families of those killed or missing, calling the loss of life and destruction devastating. Wong noted that Australians requiring emergency consular assistance can contact Dfat's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre.
A Dfat spokesperson confirmed the department is aware of a number of Australians in the flood zone and is liaising with local authorities and tour operators.
Australia's ambassador to Nepal, Simon Ernst, said he was deeply saddened by the disaster. A joint statement from the embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Norway, Switzerland and the UK in Nepal expressed solidarity with the Nepali people and urged those in affected areas to follow local safety advisories.
The flooding has hit the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts particularly hard, and the situation continues to evolve.
