Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that 34 Australians are among the hundreds of people reported missing after deadly flash floods swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region, as the government works urgently to confirm their welfare.
Speaking on Thursday morning, Albanese said getting information from Nepal was “difficult” and that “our thoughts are with all those who will be concerned about their loved ones today”. He said the government was liaising with local authorities and tour operators to confirm the welfare of Australians in Nepal.
According to the Nepal Tourist Board, as reported by Press Association, at least 403 people have been reported missing, with 341 foreign nationals unaccounted for. The board’s figures show 203 of the missing are male and 200 female.
Foreign nationals among the missing
Among the missing are 47 people from the US, 34 from Australia, 33 from the UK and 24 from Canada, according to the board’s figures. They include one Australian who was travelling with Kathmandu Holiday Tours and Travel.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, said additional personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) were being deployed to the region, including crisis response experts. She said: “There are many Australians who are concerned about friends or family who may be in the region … all Australians are thinking of you at this time. This is a worrying situation for you all.”
Wong added: “We are also thinking of the people of Nepal and China and the diaspora communities in Australia. This is a very distressing time for those community members.” She did not want to confirm details of the missing Australians until the government has engaged with their next of kin, but acknowledged many tourists travel to the region for trekking opportunities and spiritual reasons.
Diplomatic response and assistance
Nepal’s embassy in Canberra has also requested urgent assistance. The embassy’s second secretary, Saroj Paneru, said: “We are reaching out to the Australian government and hopefully they will provide assistance to us. We are in communication with them.” Paneru said the government would be seeking financial assistance, but also technical support as it searches for missing people.
He said the embassy was still trying to verify the number of Australians who were missing in the region affected by flash flooding. “The tourism industry in Nepal is working to collect information about anyone who was in the affected area,” he said. “Once we have that data and all the details have been received, we will communicate all of this to the Australian government and the embassy in Kathmandu.”
Australians in the region have been urged to follow the advice of local authorities. Those in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the consular emergency centre, Wong said.
Impact and official statements
Earlier, Australia’s ambassador to Nepal, Simon Ernst, had said he was “deeply saddened” by the disaster. A joint statement issued by the embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Norway, Switzerland and the UK in Nepal, posted on social media overnight by Ernst, said: “We are deeply saddened by the devastating flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and surrounding areas. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster. We express our solidarity with the people of Nepal during this difficult time.”
The statement added: “We encourage all those in affected areas to follow the guidance of local authorities and official safety advisories as the situation continues to evolve.” A Dfat spokesperson echoed this, saying: “We extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by the significant flooding in Nepal and Tibet, China.”
