The first Australian casualty of Nepal's catastrophic flood disaster has been confirmed, as authorities race to locate 43 other Australians still missing amid the devastation. Michael Keats, from Mollymook on the NSW South Coast, was confirmed dead by his family on Monday evening, following the massive mudslide and flood that struck central Nepal last Wednesday.
The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, has claimed at least 919 lives and left 4,793 people missing on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border. Mr. Keats was understood to be part of a group returning from a trek of Mount Kailash in Tibet. He was a follower of Indian spiritual leader Jagadish Vasudev, known as Sadhguru, founder of the Isha Foundation. Vasudev stated that Keats and 10 other Australians were at a border checkpoint in Gyirong when the flash flooding occurred.
Emily Boyd, Mr. Keats' partner, described him as an "incredibly important part" of her family and the only father figure her young son had known. She has launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over $20,000, to help cover family expenses and enable her to travel to India for a spiritual ritual in honor of those who perished.
"This fundraiser is about more than one trip," Boyd wrote. "It is about giving my son and me some breathing room while we navigate an unimaginable loss and begin to work out what our life looks like now."
Mr. Keats' sister, Karen, also announced her intention to attend the retreat, stating she felt "divinely guided" by her brother.
Of the missing Australians, many were on tours for a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a sacred site for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon practitioners. The period between June and August is peak trekking season for the region.
Among the missing are individuals from tour groups including Himalayan Glacier Trekking and Kailash Journeys, as well as 11 others associated with the Isha Foundation. Names released include Sumi Adhikari, Reshma Patel, Bharat Mangwani, Karan Bhardwaj, Uduy Shivamurthy, Kripa Shivamurthy, Suhasini Reddy Kandimalla, Renee Spry, and Narayan Panthi. Ages and other details for some of the missing have also been provided.
Cara Severino, 26, was the only Australian reported rescued so far, having fled the flood-affected area on a tractor with locals.
In response to the crisis, the Royal Australian Air Force deployed a C-17A Globemaster III aircraft on Monday, carrying emergency humanitarian supplies, disaster relief equipment, and personnel to assist rescue efforts.
Nepalese authorities have cautioned that the repatriation of foreign nationals' remains may be a lengthy process, outlining a nine-step procedure for the release of deceased individuals to their loved ones. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade operates a 24-hour emergency hotline for citizens overseas.