A tour operator holds grave fears for a group of 15 Australians missing amid flash flooding in Nepal, as the Australian government says consular assistance stands ready.
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Key facts
- Tour operator Sagar Pandey says he lost all contact with his tour group of 15 Australians, aged 11 to 63.
- A local tourism official said they believed 34 Australians were missing in the area, among hundreds of foreign nationals.
- Australian officials were not confirming numbers and were working to check on people's welfare.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Dfat officials are ready to provide consular assistance.
A tour operator has expressed grave fears for a group of 15 Australians, aged between 11 and 63, who are missing amid devastating flash flooding in Nepal, according to the Guardian.
Sagar Pandey, the tour operator, said he had lost all contact with his tour group. His account is among the concerns raised as authorities work to establish the scale of the disaster and its impact on foreign nationals in the affected region.
A local tourism official said they believed 34 Australians were missing in the area, among hundreds of foreign nationals. Australian officials were not confirming numbers at this stage and were working to check on the welfare of people they knew were in the affected region.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) officials were ready to provide consular assistance to Australians in Nepal following the flooding. “We are aware of a number of Australians in the area and Australian officials are urgently working to confirm their welfare,” a statement said, adding that officials were liaising with local authorities as well as tour operators.
Officials advised that Australians in the affected area should follow the advice of local authorities. “The images are very disturbing indeed. We do know that there are Australians in the area. We don’t know exactly how many,” the statement said.
The situation remained fluid, with Australian authorities continuing to liaise with local officials and tour operators to confirm the welfare of citizens known to be in the region.
Why it matters
Flash flooding in Nepal has put an unknown number of foreign nationals, including Australians, at risk, highlighting the dangers travellers can face in disaster-prone regions. The uncertainty over numbers underscores the challenges governments face in accounting for citizens abroad during fast-moving natural disasters.
Frequently asked questions
How many Australians are missing in the Nepal floods?
A tour operator has lost contact with a group of 15 Australians aged 11 to 63, while a local tourism official said they believed 34 Australians were missing in the area. Australian officials were not confirming numbers at this stage.
What is the Australian government doing to help?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Dfat officials are ready to provide consular assistance, and Australian officials are urgently working to confirm the welfare of citizens while liaising with local authorities and tour operators.
What should Australians in the affected area do?
Officials advised that Australians in the affected area should follow the advice of local authorities.
Timeline
- Australia news live: tour operator has grave fears for group of 15 Australians aged 11 to 63 missing amid Nepal flooding
The Guardian World: Sagar Pandey says he lost all contact with his tour group. Follow today’s news live Nepal flash flood disaster – live updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The prime minister, Anthony Albanese , says Dfat officials are ready to provide consular assi