An Australian citizen who was feared missing following the devastating floods that struck the Nepal-Tibet border last week has been found alive. The individual established contact with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) on Tuesday from Tibet. They are currently receiving support from Australian consular officers and have been in communication with their family.
This recovery reduces the number of Australians missing in the disaster from 43 to 42. Another Australian, 25-year-old Cara Severino, was previously confirmed safe over the weekend. Due to privacy obligations, the foreign affairs department has not released further details regarding the identity of the individual.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong stated that the government was “incredibly thankful” for the news, noting the immense relief the person's family must be experiencing after a “harrowing few days.” However, Wong cautioned that the government must “remain realistic” about the ongoing situation. She highlighted that communications remain difficult, critical infrastructure has been destroyed, and many regions remain inaccessible. “As each day passes, our grave concerns for those still unaccounted for inevitably grow,” she added, while expressing support for the search and rescue teams operating in the area.
The death toll from the disaster, which involved an unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud, and debris on Wednesday, has risen to 939 people, with 16 additional deaths reported in Tibet. In response to the crisis, Australia has committed an $8m assistance package for the affected border communities. Massive search and rescue operations are continuing, with Nepal having deployed nearly 20,000 security personnel, while Chinese state media reports that 2,141 emergency personnel are also involved in the efforts.
