Relief as Australian missing in Nepal-Tibet floods found alive

An Australian individual who was presumed missing following devastating floods along the Nepal-Tibet border has been found alive, bringing the total of Australians unaccounted for down from 43 to 42. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) confirmed the person made contact with officials in Tibet on Tuesday and is currently receiving assistance from Australian consular officers.

The foreign minister, Penny Wong, expressed relief for the individual and their family, emphasizing the challenging circumstances surrounding the situation. The death toll from the floods has risen to 939, with an additional 16 reported in Tibet, and over 4,400 people remain missing on both sides of the border. Wong cautioned that reality must be acknowledged regarding the ongoing challenges in communications, infrastructure, and reach to affected areas.

The Australian government has pledged an $8 million support package for the affected communities, with Nepal deploying nearly 20,000 security personnel and China mobilizing 2,141 emergency personnel to aid in the search and rescue efforts.