Australia
Nepal and Tibet floods leave 39 Australians missing
At least 39 Australians are among the hundreds missing after devastating flash floods swept through mountainous regions of Nepal and Tibet.
Grave fears are held for hundreds of people, including dozens of Australians, after devastating flash floods swept through mountainous regions of Nepal and Tibet.
According to a wire report, the disaster has already claimed the lives of at least 392 people. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue teams attempt to access isolated communities in the affected mountainous terrain.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that at least 39 Australians are currently unaccounted for in the region. Australian consular officials are working to establish contact with those in the affected areas, though communication difficulties in the rugged landscape are complicating efforts.
The flash floods, which struck with little warning, have devastated infrastructure across the high altitude region. Entire villages are believed to have been affected, with roads and communication lines cut off by the rushing water and subsequent landslides.
The Australian Government has not yet released the names or specific locations of the missing citizens. It remains unclear how many Australians were travelling in the area as tourists or how many reside there permanently.
Officials have warned that the scale of the destruction is still being assessed, and local emergency services are overwhelmed by the scope of the crisis. Search and rescue operations are continuing under difficult conditions, with further rain forecast for some of the affected areas.
Families of Australians travelling in Nepal and Tibet have been urged to contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade if they are unable to reach their loved ones.
Observers will watch for updates from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as search efforts continue and consular staff work to locate the missing Australians.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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