Australians Missing in Nepal Rise to 41 as New Glacial Lake Raises Flood Fears
At least 41 Australians are now unaccounted for after deadly flash floods swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region, as rescuers race against weather, wash...
At least 41 Australians are now unaccounted for after deadly flash floods swept through the Nepal-Tibet border region, as rescuers race against weather, washed-out roads and a new glacial lake that could threaten more flooding. The disaster has also left hundreds dead and more than 2,400 people missing across the region.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday morning the number of missing Australians had risen from 39 a day earlier, after one woman made contact with her family. Australian officials are working to confirm the welfare of those still missing, while Canberra has moved to send crisis and humanitarian response specialists to Nepal.
Search teams face broken roads, poor weather
Nepal’s government, army and police have mounted a major search-and-rescue effort, but the scale of the damage is slowing every move. Roads and bridges have been washed away. Helicopter access is limited. Weather conditions remain poor. In the flood-hit valleys, whole settlements have been obliterated.
The floods struck after a landslide of rock and ice burst the banks of the Trishuli River on Wednesday, triggering catastrophic flash flooding across a mountainous stretch near the China border. Officials have said more than 400 people were killed, while later reports put the toll higher, with at least 626 dead across Nepal and Tibet. In Nepal alone, the number of people missing has climbed beyond 2,400.
Families in Australia have travelled to Nepal to help look for loved ones. One of the missing Australians, Cara Severino, made contact with her parents on Friday after earlier fears for her safety. Authorities have not publicly detailed the status of the others, and the list remains fluid as confirmations come in.
New danger from rising lake
Pressure is now building in a different form. Disaster authorities in Nepal have warned that a lake formed by a river blockage in the flooded area is rising and could burst, raising the risk of fresh flooding for nearby communities already battered by the first wave.
The new threat matters far beyond Nepal. Mountain regions across the Himalayas, like alpine zones elsewhere in the world, are increasingly exposed as ice melt and unstable slopes reshape rivers and valleys. When glacial or landslide-dammed lakes give way, the surge can move fast and hit hard, leaving little time for warning.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was sending specialist teams to assist in the aftermath. Wong also confirmed a $5 million assistance package for affected communities, as Canberra expanded consular and humanitarian support for the disaster zone.
Rescue crews keep searching through wreckage and mud while the missing count shifts almost by the hour. For families waiting for news, the next update may come from a satellite phone, a hospital, or a helicopter landing where a road no longer exists.
