Key facts
- An Australian, previously missing after floods on the Nepal-Tibet border, has been found alive.
- The individual contacted Australian officials from Tibet and is receiving consular support.
- The number of missing Australians has reduced from 43 to 42.
- The total death toll from the floods has reached 939, with over 4,400 people still missing.
- Australia has provided an $8 million aid package to the affected regions.
An Australian national, who was among those unaccounted for following severe floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, has been located alive. The individual made contact with officials from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) on Tuesday from Tibet and is now receiving consular assistance and support. This discovery reduces the number of Australians still missing in the disaster from 43 to 42, following the safe location of another Australian, Cara Severino, over the weekend.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong expressed gratitude for the rescue, acknowledging the immense relief for the individual's loved ones. However, she cautioned that the situation remains critical due to destroyed infrastructure and difficult access to many areas, urging realism about the ongoing search efforts. The death toll from the unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud, and debris has climbed to 939, with an additional 16 fatalities reported in Tibet. More than 4,400 people remain missing across both Nepal and Tibet.
Australia has committed an $8 million assistance package to support the affected communities. In parallel, Nepal has deployed approximately 20,000 security personnel to aid in search and rescue operations, while Chinese state media reported the deployment of 2,141 emergency personnel.