An Australian Hiker Missing in Nepal's Floods Is Found Alive — But 38 Others Are Still Missing
Cara Severino, a 25-year-old Australian, called her family on the morning of August 28. She had been missing for more than two days after terrible flash flooding hit the China-Nepal border. She is the first of 39 Australians reported missing in the disaster to be confirmed safe. The Guardian
Her parents, Debbie and Frank Severino, said her phone battery had died and she had no signal in the disaster area. She managed to call them from Gosainkunda, a high-up spot along a pilgrimage route, where she had arrived with a group of Nepali hikers. She is now trying to reach Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, on foot — a journey of more than 110 kilometres from the flood-affected area. The Guardian
Severino had been hiking the Langtang trek when the flood struck. The Langtang Valley, north of Kathmandu and close to the Tibetan border, is one of Nepal's most popular hiking routes. It was badly hit by the flash flooding that destroyed villages in the area on Wednesday. Of the 35 missing Australians whose details were released by Nepali police, Severino was the only one not listed as travelling with a tour agency. That made it harder to find her at first. The Guardian
After Severino's call, 38 Australians were still unaccounted for. WAtoday The difference between the figure of 35 and the total of 39 comes from the fact that Nepali authorities and Australian consular officials were still checking and combining their missing-persons lists. Nepal's Tourism Board had reported 35 Australians missing, up from a previous count of 34. Nine News
Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Matt Thistlethwaite, said staff from DFAT — Australia's department that handles overseas affairs — were working with authorities in Kathmandu to find the missing Australians. He said Canberra planned to send an emergency response team. The Guardian
The disaster goes far beyond the Australians. At least 469 people have been killed and more than 1,500 are missing after the flash flood hit the China-Nepal border on Wednesday. The Guardian Earlier figures from the ABC put the death toll at 392 with nearly 1,500 missing. Those numbers show how quickly the count was rising in the first 48 hours. ABC News Records from Nepali trekking and travel companies listed 644 people unaccounted for right after the disaster. SBS News
The different numbers come from different sources at different times during a fast-moving crisis. When communications systems are destroyed and affected areas are hard to reach, it is very difficult to get a clear picture. The death toll rose by 77 between the ABC's reporting on August 26 and The Guardian's update on August 28. That pace suggests the full count may not yet be known.
Several things make the search difficult. The Langtang region is rugged and remote, with few roads even in normal conditions. Flash flooding in high mountain valleys can wipe out trails, destroy bridges, and cut off entire communities for long periods. Independent trekkers like Severino, who are not signed up with a tour agency, are harder to track because their plans are not on file with local authorities. Those who travel with organised operators have their itineraries registered, which serves as a safety net.
The broader context here is that Severino's survival brings relief to her family, but dozens of Australian families and hundreds of Nepali and other foreign families are still waiting for news. The 110-kilometre walk to Kathmandu that she and her companions are making on foot shows how badly the disaster has disrupted normal travel routes. With 38 Australians still missing and Australia's emergency team not yet on the ground, the coming days will be critical for those still stranded in the flood zone.
