Australia Boosts Support as Number of Missing Citizens in Nepal Flood Disaster Rises to 41
The number of Australians confirmed as missing following the catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border has climbed to 41, as rescue teams and diplomatic officials scramble to navigate the devastation caused by the region’s deadliest weather event in years.
While the death toll continues to rise—with the Red Cross estimating nearly 600 fatalities and up to 93,000 people displaced—the search for international tourists remains a critical priority. Local disaster management agencies report that 1,924 people remain unaccounted for, including 517 foreign nationals.
Amid the ongoing uncertainty, there was a glimmer of hope yesterday when 25-year-old Australian Cara Severino made contact with her family. Severino, who had been listed among the missing, informed her parents that she was safe and trekking toward Kathmandu with a group of local hikers. She is the first Australian previously reported as missing to be confirmed safe.
A Humanitarian Crisis
The scale of the destruction is profound, with entire towns reduced to mudslides. “The gravity of the situation is worse now because whole towns have been swept away,” said Keshav Kadel, vice president of the Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre. “Now there is nothing, it’s just a mudslide.”
Conditions on the ground remain treacherous, with rescue operations frequently hampered by the threat of further flooding and heavy monsoon rains. In Kathmandu, hospitals have become hubs of desperation as families circulate photographs of their missing relatives in the hope of receiving news.
Government Response
The Australian government is intensifying its consular efforts to assist the affected families. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong held discussions with her Nepali counterpart, Shisir Khanal, to coordinate further assistance.
Australia has pledged a total of $5 million in humanitarian aid, with $2 million allocated to the World Food Programme for essential food and water supplies, and the remainder distributed via the Emergency Action Alliance to provide emergency shelter and medical support.
Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Matt Thistlethwaite, confirmed that the government is working closely with the Nepali authorities to deploy specialized aid. Four crisis response officers and four humanitarian specialists are expected to arrive in Kathmandu to bolster the 20 personnel already operating out of the Australian embassy.
“We’re doing our best to support both the Nepalese and Tibetan diasporas here in Australia,” Thistlethwaite said on Saturday morning. The minister noted that he has held forums with community leaders to provide updates and address the profound anxiety felt by families awaiting word on their loved ones.
As the situation unfolds, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) continues to manage a high volume of inquiries, having received more than 450 calls since the disaster struck. The government’s priority remains the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts as the search for the missing enters a critical phase.
