A Miracle After 14 Days of Silence: Missing Australian Found Alive in Nepal — But 35 Families Are Still Waiting
An Australian missing in Nepal since the deadly floods almost two weeks ago has been found safe.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed the person has made contact with Australian authorities, meaning there are now 35 Australians unaccounted for after the disaster.
This latest proof of life represents the eighth Australian found alive since the flood on August 26.
“An Australian citizen, who was in Nepal and uncontactable, has today confirmed they are safe and well and do not require consular assistance,” a DFAT spokesperson said.
The ABC reports the person was not in the disaster zone on the Nepal-Tibet border.
More than 5000 people have been killed and more than 1000 are still missing in Nepal following the disaster. Picture: Prabin Ranabhat / AFP
Of the 35 Australians still missing, 34 were on religious pilgrimages.
Most of the missing people were last known to be near the Gyirong border crossing, north of Kathmandu.
The latest official death toll stands at 1357, with 5326 people unaccounted for.
A man from the NSW south coast, Michael Keats, was the first Australian confirmed to have died in the landslide and flooding.
Australians found safely have been spread across the extensively damaged areas of Tibet, Nepal, and several from outside the disaster areas.
The Nepali Army and disaster management agency both post regular updates.
Thousands remain unaccounted for following the disaster. Picture: Prabin Ranabhat / AFP
More than 21,000 personnel have been deployed to the region as part of efforts to rescue 13,500 people.
Another 80,000 litres of fuel has been delivered to the isolated areas, and the Ministry of Health has sent 150 staff specifically for psychological counselling.
An estimated 900 workers remain missing in hydropower tunnels and the surrounding power station sites.
Holes have been drilled into multiple tunnels to pump in oxygen.
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority chief, Dharma Raj Upreti, told Reuters rescue crews were still focused on finding survivors.
More than 21,000 personnel have been deployed to the region as part of efforts to rescue survivors. Picture: Nepalese Army / AFP
“Our bigger focus is on the Chilime hydro-electric project, where we believe people are trapped, because there was a canteen, residency and arrangements for food.”
Sydney woman Cara Severino, 26, was the first Australian found safely and is one of the few who have spoken publicly. In a statement, she sent condolences to the Nepalese.
“My heart goes out to all the Nepalese families who are grieving loved ones,” she said.
“We passed a guy hiking up to Thulu Safru who lost his whole family when their town was destroyed.
“It’s just so devastating and undeserving. I feel for the families of those still missing, I know how much my family and friends went through,” she said after being located a few days after the disaster knocked out swathes of infrastructure.
Many family members have travelled to Nepal to look for their missing loved ones.
Sydney father-of-two, Nava Pandey, is among them.
He held a funeral with a symbolic effigy for his wife Sumi, who was last seen at the Gyirong border crossing.
