The devastating earthquake in Nepal has killed more than 2,500 people, and left 350 Australians missing. As a desperate rescue mission takes place, the families of these Australians and hundreds of others wait anxiously.
In the wake of the horrific earthquake in Nepal last night it has been reported that one Australian is dead at Mount Everest’s base camp in an earthquake-triggered avalanche. When the earthquake hit on Saturday there were at least 1,000 climbers at the three camps and attempting to climb Mt Everest.
Fairfax Media reports that Temba Tsheri, Sherpa of the Dreamers’ Destination Treks and Expeditions said, “I have lost four team members in the avalanche – two Nepalis, one Chinese and Australian.”
There are also grave fears for the scores of missing Australians unaccounted for in the Nepal earthquake.
Today, the number of Australians missing stands at more than 350.
Young women volunteering, sons trekking, daughters and sisters taking time out from the corporate world to take in the historic country, and to learn from the lives of the Nepalese. They were tourists seeking adventure, young people wanting to help, and others seeking solace and meaning in the hills of the extraordinary landscape of the Himalayas.
Their desperate families anxiously searching social media, monitoring the Red Cross web sites and many, like actor Hugh Sheridan, making the journey to Nepal to find their loved ones themselves.
Sheridan’s younger brother, Zach last contacted his family on April 22 near Mount Everest. Hugh Sheridan has today flown to the area determined to find his little brother.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has urged family members of missing Australians in Nepal that they should not “assume the worst”.
“Yes, there are Australians who are unaccounted for, and people whose family members, friends or loved ones are known to be in Nepal and northern India should at first do their best to make contact with them,” he said.
“A lot of people who are out trekking are not easy to contact. But if they can’t make contact then obviously it’s important to be in contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs [consular line].”
Among the 350 unaccounted for are:
Isabel Baudish
The 25-year-old student from Chatswood, Sydney was trekking the Annapurna Circuit with a friend, after doing some volunteer work in India.
Top Comments
I hate these articles!!!! thousands upon thousands of Nepali people have lost their lives and we need an article about 'missing' Australians, most of who will show up today..... at least wait until we know who is really missing after the dust settles and allow us to grieve for the thousands of Nepali people who have no homes and no food to come back to. So insensitive!!!!