34 Australians Missing After Devastating Himalayan Floods
At least 34 Australians are missing after catastrophic floods in Nepal and China, with over 160 confirmed dead and hundreds unaccounted for.
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed that at least 34 Australians are unaccounted for following catastrophic flash flooding in the Himalayan border region of Nepal and China. The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse, has claimed at least 160 lives, with hundreds more still missing.
Speaking in Adelaide, Wong described the scale of destruction as "devastating," noting that the missing Australians were part of separate pilgrimage and tour groups. The government's immediate priority, she said, is to confirm the whereabouts and welfare of these citizens.
Canberra is now deploying additional Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) personnel, including crisis response experts, to the affected region. The department is coordinating with local authorities, tour operators, the Nepalese government, the United Nations, and the Red Cross on both the humanitarian response and the search for Australian nationals.
The flash floods, which experts attribute to a glacial collapse in the warming Himalayan region, have caused widespread destruction. Drone footage reveals obliterated roads and buried buildings. Nepalese police report 157 deaths, while China's state broadcaster confirms at least three fatalities there and over 260 missing. In Nepal alone, at least 400 people are reported missing, many of whom were on a pilgrimage to a sacred Hindu site.
US seismologists recorded the glacial collapse at a magnitude of 5.2, with the resulting debris flow surging downstream with catastrophic force. Nepalese climate experts noted that one river rose by an astonishing 27 feet in just half an hour.
Wong urged Australians in the region to follow local advice and monitor media, and to subscribe to SmartTraveller for updates. Those needing consular assistance can contact Australia's 24-hour consular emergency centre at 1300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas. Families in Australia concerned about loved ones are also encouraged to provide information through these channels.
India, the United States, Britain, and Canada have also reported their citizens among the missing, underscoring the international scale of the tragedy.