Rescuers have saved another four Australians who were missing in Nepal’s horror flash flood disaster.
The news on Wednesday brings the total number of rescued Australians to six, but dozens more remain unaccounted for.
The first Australian to be found alive was 26-year-old Cara Severino, from Wollongong, another was rescued on Tuesday, followed by four on Wednesday.
The identities of the five latest Australians to be found have not been confirmed, but one was found in Nepal, another in China and three others outside the disaster zone.
They were reported missing after failing to contact loved ones after the flood and had been unable to make contact since. It’s understood their families were unaware they were safe.
More than 4,850 people remain missing, including 38 Australians.
Nepal Police on Wednesday afternoon said 1,118 bodies have been found following the flash flood last Wednesday.
Chinese media, covering the Tibet side of the border, reported 16 dead and 546 missing.
Another four Australians have been found in Nepal after flood disaster, bring the total to six
Australian crisis response teams are on the ground in Nepal and working with local authorities to locate missing Australians
Another four Australians were rescued in Nepal on Wednesday amid the recovery effort
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the news of the Australians’ rescue.
‘Amidst all of this tragedy, we are seeing some positive news. Today, another five Australians have been confirmed safe,’ he said.
‘We hope, of course, for positive news further, and we’re doing everything we can to work with authorities.’
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has been sending Air Force planes with aid to the region amid the massive humanitarian recovery effort.
Australian crisis response teams are also on the ground and assisting embassy staff.
Ms Severino was pictured alongside Australian officials in the Nepal capital Kathmandu on Sunday, after making contact with authorities less than 48 hours prior.
She had been near Langtang National Park and survived by forming a group with others who were fleeing the havoc on a tractor.
Sadly, the first Australian confirmed to have died in the natural disaster caused by an ice avalanche was Michael Keats from NSW.
Australian ambassador to Nepal, Simon Ernst, and Nepal’s Minister for Home Affairs. Sudan Gurung, onboard A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu
Cara Severino (above) was the first Australian found alive on Sunday
More than 4,850 people remain missing in Nepal, including at least 38 Australians
Loved ones confirmed the death of Michael Keats (right) on Monday
Nepalese authorities have warned in advance that the remains of deceased foreigners could take time to be repatriated.
Amid the ongoing crisis, Nepal Police detailed a nine-step process remains must undergo before being released to loved ones.
The Australian DFAT has a 24-hour emergency hotline.
It can be domestically reached at 1300 555 135. If calling from overseas, the number is +61 2 6261 3305.
Bodies from the disaster have also appeared in India with at least 17 having been pulled from downstream rivers.
Local authorities have rescued almost 12,000 people in central Nepal with the rescue effort now being focused on debris-filled hydropower tunnels where it’s believed hundreds of workers are trapped.
Among the missing Australians are multiple children, with the youngest believed to be 11-year-old Aarush Muralitharan.
He and his brother, 14-year-old Ashwin Muralitharan, were travelling with their parents on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
The mountain is a sacred place in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon. Summer, from June to August, is the most popular time of year for the trek.
It’s understood Mr Keats was a follower of Jagadish Vasudev, known as Sadhguru, and was travelling with Mr Vasudev’s organisation – Isha Foundation.
The foundation said ten other Australians were in Mr Keats’ group.
MISSING AUSTRALIANS
At least 32 Australians are missing in Nepal and Tibet.
Most were travelling with tour groups – Himalayan Glacier Trekking and Kailash Journeys.
Eleven other Australians were travelling with the Isha Foundation.
Those include 41-year-old Sumi Adhikari, 46-year-old Reshma Patel, and Bharat Mangwani.
Other missing Australians include 40-year-old Karan Bhardwaj, 50-year-old Uduy Shivamurthy, 55-year-old Kripa Shivamurthy, 30-year-old Luke Costanzo, Suhasini Reddy Kandimalla, Renee Spry and Narayan Panthi.
Six Australians have been found so far, including 26-year-old Cara Severino.
Loved ones confirmed the death of Michael Keats on Monday.
Himalayan Glacier Trekking
– Sridharan Iyer, 52
– Lakshmi Roopa Sridhar, 50
– Rudhra Sreedharan Iyer, 20
– Rishabh Sridharan Iyer, 24
– Chandrasekaran Muralitharan, 47
– Shylaja Muralitharan, 42
– Ashwin Muralitharan, 14
– Aarush Muralitharan, 11
– Venkatraman Balakrishnan, 52
– Chitra Venkatraman, 46
– Rajeswari Sharma, 64
– Sruthi Chandrasekaran, 36
– Krishna Sharma, 50
– Umesh Sharma, 55
– Kumar Ramaswamy Sampath, 61
Kailash Journeys
– Sandeep Mohapatra, 43
– Sidharth Kumari Sahu, 39
– Arpan Mithilal Kothari, 40
– Bhavinkumar Rajnikant Ravel, 41
– Karan Bhardwaj, 40
– Kanagamalah Sundrasan, 60