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Australian missing in Tibet floods found alive
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Australian Cara Severino, 26, found alive in Nepal after flood. Families of 43 missing Australians await news as search resumes.
Background
Flash floods and landslides struck the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, killing hundreds and leaving thousands missing. Many of the missing Australians were pilgrims trekking to a holy site in Tibet. The disaster has complicated rescue efforts due to damaged infrastructure and the remote border area.
How it unfolded
- Aug 26, 2026Flash floods and landslides hit the Nepal-Tibet border, causing widespread destruction and leaving many missing.
- Aug 27, 2026Rescue teams begin searching for hundreds missing; Australian death toll and missing numbers start to rise.
- Aug 28, 2026Death toll reaches 584, with 41 Australians missing; families of missing Australians appeal for information.
- Aug 29, 2026Cara Severino, 26, makes contact with her family and is located safely by Australian consular officials; search operations resume after weather suspension.
- Aug 30, 2026Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirms Severino found safe; number of missing Australians rises to 42.
- Aug 31, 2026Search continues for 43 Australians still missing; total missing in Nepal and Tibet exceeds 3,000.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong called Severino's survival 'a rare piece of positive news amid a disaster that has brought immense loss and uncertainty.'
- Family
- Families of missing Australians express hope and desperation, with one family member saying they are 'desperately praying, hoping and believing' their loved one is safe.
- Community
- Nepalese community in Australia is 'praying for them to come back home safely' as they face a difficult wait for news.
Still unverified
The exact number of missing Australians fluctuated between 41 and 43 across reports; official confirmation of the final count is pending.