Nepal-Tibet floods: Number of Australians missing rises to 39 as government pledges millions of dollars in assistance

The number of Australians missing in the catastrophic Nepal-Tibet floods has risen to 39.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the figure in a statement on Friday morning, announcing a $5 million humanitarian assistance package and additional personnel to help respond to the disaster.

“We understand at least 39 Australians are among those reported missing. Australian officials are working urgently to confirm their welfare and provide assistance to those affected,” Wong said.

“The extraordinary scale of this disaster and the remoteness of the affected region mean immense challenges lie ahead for the response and recovery.”

The floods have swept away villages, damaged critical infrastructure and displaced thousands of people on both sides of the Nepal-China border.

Destroyed roads and bridges have left many communities isolated, making it difficult for emergency assistance to reach those affected.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is deploying personnel to support Australians caught up in the disaster.

A Crisis Response Team member and a Regional Consular Officer are already on the ground in Kathmandu, joining staff at the Australian Embassy in Nepal.

Australia will also send an initial team of three humanitarian response specialists within the next 48 hours to assist staff already in the country.

Drawn from the Australia Assists program, the Rapid Response Team brings expertise in humanitarian assessment, logistics, communications and planning.

“The Australian Government is rapidly mobilising consular and humanitarian support in response to the catastrophic floods along the Nepal-China border, including through a $5 million assistance package for affected communities,” Wong said.

Rescue teams and military helicopters searched Thursday for hundreds of missing people along the mountainous Nepal-China border, where a deadly torrent of water and mud several stories high swept through communities a day earlier following a glacier collapse.

More than 390 people were killed, and more than 1,400 were missing, according to authorities in Nepal and China.

Videos showed people running before floodwaters swallowed them up and washed away buildings and bridges.