A second Australian citizen has been found alive following severe flooding in Nepal, the Albanese government confirmed. The individual, whose identity has not been released, is receiving support from consular officials and has been in contact with their family.
This development comes as the total number of missing people in Nepal remains at 3,925, with the confirmed death toll reaching 939. The number of unaccounted for Australians now stands at 42.
Cara Severino, 26, was the first Australian to be located. She was found on Sunday in the capital, Kathmandu, and pictured with Australian embassy staff. Severino, from Wollongong, New South Wales, had been hiking in the Himalayas when the floods, triggered by an ice avalanche, struck the region on Wednesday morning local time. She was near Langtang National Park and survived by joining a group that was escaping the devastation on a tractor.
"Grateful to the crew we formed on that first day when we entered the national park on a tractor," Severino stated, thanking Sudha, Lucas, Samir, and Saugat for her safe evacuation. She expressed her condolences for the Nepalese hikers and towns affected by the disaster, acknowledging the immense distress experienced by families awaiting news of loved ones.
Severino's parents, Debbie and Frank, described her discovery as a "miracle" and expressed profound gratitude to the Australian Consular Response teams for their efforts in locating her and ensuring her safety. They also thanked her Nepalese hiking companions for their support during the harrowing ordeal.
Many of the Australians who were missing were reportedly on tours for a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, a significant religious site for Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. The summer months, from June to August, are typically the busiest period for treks in the region.
