Following severe flooding in Nepal earlier this week, Australian authorities are intensifying efforts to locate citizens unaccounted for in the disaster zone. The count of missing Australians reached 41, up from 38 reported the previous evening, though one woman, Cara Severino, was confirmed safe after contacting her parents to report she was trekking toward Kathmandu with a group of Nepali guides.
The flooding has created a major humanitarian crisis affecting the Nepal-Tibet border region. The Red Cross estimates approximately 600 deaths, with as many as 93,000 people impacted by the disaster. Nepal’s disaster management agency reports 1,924 people remain unaccounted for overall, including 517 foreign tourists. Rescue operations resumed after being temporarily suspended due to flooding risks.
The Australian government has deployed additional personnel to assist ongoing consular operations. Four Department of Foreign Affairs crisis response officers and four rapid response team members specializing in humanitarian logistics are expected to arrive in Kathmandu, joining approximately 20 existing embassy staff. The department has fielded over 450 calls related to the disaster.
Australia has committed $5 million in humanitarian assistance. The funds are divided between a $2 million contribution to the World Food Programme for emergency food and water supplies, and the remainder directed to the Emergency Action Alliance for shelter, sanitation, and medical care. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed the assistance was being provided at Nepal’s request and coordination with Chinese authorities is ongoing. Australian officials have also held community forums with Nepalese and Tibetan diaspora groups in Australia to provide updates and support information.
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