Australian authorities are working to confirm the welfare of 34 Australians unaccounted for after flash flooding and landslides tore through the mountainous border region between Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, killing at least 160 people.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said authorities are yet to confirm the figure.
“People would have seen some of the footage, which is a truly horrific event,” the PM said at the News Limited Bush Summit in Dubbo.
“At this point, there are 34 Australians who are missing. We are asking for those with information, and hopefully through this, will get you the numbers to put up on screen, where people can contact our consular people,” he said.
“At this point, Nepal is a developing country. It doesn’t have the resources that an event like that would have in Australia. So information is difficult.
“Now, our thoughts are with all those who’ll be concerned about their loved ones today.”
Children aged 11-14 were among the 15 of the 34 missing Australians on a tour in Nepal with the US-based Himalayan Glacier tourism operator when the catastrophic floods hit, according to Himalayan Glacier founder and chief executive Sagar Pandey.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) was urgently working to confirm the welfare of Australians in the area.
“The loss of life and destruction caused by flash flooding in Nepal and China is devastating,” Wong said. “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those killed or missing and all affected by this disaster,” she said.
Nepal’s tourism ministry said 403 tourists – 341 of them foreign nationals – were unaccounted for in the hours after the disaster struck, with missing travellers also reported from India, the UK, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea and the US. A DFAT spokesperson said the department had not yet independently confirmed the number of missing Australians, and was “liaising with local authorities as well as tour operators”.
The flooding hit a popular trekking corridor, with Nepal’s tourism board saying many of those missing were likely tourists visiting the region, including hikers in Langtang National Park and pilgrims travelling to Mount Kailash in Tibet. Rescue efforts have been hampered by damaged infrastructure and the risk of further flooding, with experts warning a blockage still lodged upstream could trigger a second surge.
Check DFAT Smartraveller
Agents and operators with clients or groups travelling in the affected region are advised to check DFAT’s Smartraveller advisory for Nepal, and to reach out directly to on-ground partners and tour operators for updates.
The site was updated to say major flash flooding and a mudslide in Rasuwa District and the Nepal-China border has caused significant damage.
“There have been a number of deaths and injuries reported,” it said. “Roads, transport and infrastructure are significantly damaged. Transport services may be disrupted or cancelled. Contact your airline, bus operator or other transport provider to confirm schedules and travel arrangements before departure. If you’re travelling as part of a tour, contact your tour operator or travel agent for updates and support. Avoid flood affected areas. Monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.
If you need emergency consular assistance, contact the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu on +977 1 437 1678 or the Australian Government’s Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (if you’re overseas) or 1300 555 135 (in Australia).
“We continue to advise ‘exercise a high degree of caution’ overall in Nepal due to the risk of road accidents and natural disasters,” it said
Industry responds
G Adventures
G Adventures issued a statement following reports of severe flash flooding in the Nepal-Tibet border region.
“G Adventures can confirm that all of our travellers and staff in the affected area are safe and well,” the statement said. “We currently have one traveller group in Tibet, whose itinerary is being adjusted to accommodate changes to the border crossing.
“All other G Adventures itineraries in the region remain unchanged at this time. Our local operations teams are monitoring the situation closely and are in regular contact with our travellers and local partners, with further adjustments to itineraries to be made if required.
“Our thoughts are with the local communities who have been impacted by the flooding.”
World Expeditions
World Expeditions’ CEO Sue Badyari said the images coming out of Nepal are “truly devastating”.
“Our immediate priority has been the safety and wellbeing of our clients and staff,” she said. “We have confirmed through our local team in Nepal that all World Expeditions clients and staff currently travelling in the country are safe and accounted for. We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely with our local ground operators and authorities.
“At this stage it is too early to say what impact the event may have on future travel bookings. Our focus right now is on the people affected and on ensuring the safety of travellers currently in Nepal. We will continue to assess conditions and make any necessary itinerary changes in consultation with our local partners and communicate directly with affected travellers.
“Nepal is a country we have worked in for many decades and have a deep connection with, so seeing the devastation caused by this event is particularly distressing. We are setting up a fundraiser through the World Expeditions Foundation to support the communities impacted by the floods and their recovery efforts. The fundraiser will be available through the World Expeditions Foundation later today, and we encourage those who would like to support the affected communities to consider contributing.”
Intrepid
Intrepid Travel’s customers and team members in Nepal are safe and accounted for, the operator of 26 itineraries in Nepal said. Two of these itineraries, Tamang Heritage and Langtang Valley Trek and Tibet: Beijing to Kathmandu Overland, pass through the effected region, however neither itinerary was operating at the time of the flooding. The Tamang Heritage and Langtang Valley Trek itinerary includes an overnight stay in Syabrubesi village, which has suffered significant damage and is likely to affect future departures.
Intrepid will be launching a global fundraising appeal through The Intrepid Foundation, with Intrepid Travel committing AU$100,000 in matched funding to support relief efforts.
“We are deeply saddened by the catastrophic flooding in Nepal that has impacted Timure, Rasuwagadhi, Syabrubesi and communities along the Trishuli River corridor,” Intrepid Travel general manager, Nepal, Yalamber Rai, said.
Beyond the tragic loss of life, this disaster is expected to have lasting impacts on livelihoods, trade, tourism, local businesses and critical infrastructure across the affected region.
“The safety of our customers, staff and host communities remains our highest priority. We are closely monitoring developments and continuing to assess the impact on current trips, transportation services, accommodations, and upcoming departures. We will adapt our operations as needed to ensure the safety of our customers and team members.
“We are also focused on supporting the wellbeing of our local partners and host communities and are exploring ways we can assist those affected as they navigate the challenges ahead.”
ATIA
ATIA Director of CATO and Education Mira Yates said: “This is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to all those who are impacted. It’s also a difficult time for many of our members, who may be affected by the flooding in Nepal and China. We’ve moved quickly to put practical tools in their hands, from customer email templates to the latest DFAT advice, so they can focus on supporting their travellers.”
“We’re in constant contact with DFAT and will keep members updated as the situation develops. Right now, our priority is making sure no one in the industry is dealing with this on their own.”
