Australia racing to locate 39 citizens unaccounted for in Nepal floods

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is intensifying efforts to locate 39 citizens who have lost contact during catastrophic flooding that has swept through Nepal, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirming the difficulties inherent in such large-scale search and rescue operations.

The disaster has severely disrupted communications infrastructure across affected regions, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to establish the whereabouts and status of the missing Australians. Wong indicated that the sheer magnitude of the flooding event has strained resources and complicated coordination efforts between Australian and Nepalese authorities.

The department has urged Australians in Nepal to register with its emergency contact service and advised those in affected areas to move to higher ground and await further instructions. Consular staff have been deployed to assist with verification efforts and to support any citizens who can be reached.

Nepal has been grappling with one of its worst natural disasters in recent years, with the flooding affecting multiple districts and displacing thousands of residents. Australian authorities are working alongside international agencies and local Nepalese officials to gather information on the missing nationals and coordinate relief efforts.