An Australian believed to be missing after the flash floods that devastated the Nepal‑Tibet border last week has been found alive. The individual made contact with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Tuesday from within Tibet and is now receiving support from Australian consular officers while speaking with family.
The rescue reduces the number of Australians unaccounted for in the disaster from 43 to 42, following the earlier safe recovery of 25‑year‑old Cara Severino over the weekend. “We’re incredibly thankful another Australian, who had been unaccounted for, has now been found,” foreign affairs minister Penny Wong said, adding that the relief felt by loved ones must be profound after several harrowing days.
Authorities say the unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud and debris claimed 939 lives, with an additional 16 deaths reported in Tibet, and left more than 4,400 people missing on both sides of the border. Wong said the government needed to “remain realistic” about the days ahead, noting that communications remain difficult, infrastructure has been destroyed and many areas are still hard to reach. She expressed grave concerns for those still unaccounted for and offered thoughts to families and the rescue teams working in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.
Australia has pledged an $8 million assistance package for affected communities on the Nepal‑China frontier. Nepal has deployed nearly 20,000 security personnel to support search and rescue operations, while Chinese state media reported that 2,141 emergency personnel have been deployed.
