An Australian, who was among those believed missing after floods ravaged the Nepal-Tibet border last week, has been found alive. The individual contacted officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) from Tibet on Tuesday.
The person is now receiving support from Australian consular officers and has spoken with their family. This development brings the number of Australians still unaccounted for in the flash floods down to 42, following the earlier safe location of 25-year-old Cara Severino over the weekend.
Australia's foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, expressed gratitude for the discovery, acknowledging the relief for the individual's loved ones. She also noted the ongoing difficulties, including destroyed infrastructure and communication challenges, in the affected areas.
The death toll from the floods, which occurred last Wednesday, has risen to 939 people, with 16 additional deaths reported in Tibet. More than 4,400 individuals remain missing across both sides of the border. Australia has provided an $8 million assistance package to communities on the Nepal-China border, while Nepal and China have deployed thousands of emergency personnel for search and rescue operations.