At least 34 Australians missing in deadly Nepal-Tibet flash floods, Wong confirms

At least 34 Australians are missing after catastrophic flash floods struck the mountainous Nepal-Tibet border region, killing more than 160 people.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the tally on Thursday, saying the unaccounted-for Australians were travelling with two separate pilgrimage and tour groups. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also cited the figure earlier in the day.

The disaster hit the Rasuwa district on the Nepal-China border after a mass of ice broke away from a Himalayan glacier, sending water, rock and debris crashing downstream, according to satellite imagery cited by ABC News. Hundreds of people are missing in total across the region. Upstream blockages have prompted warnings of possible secondary flooding.

Wong said the count of 34 unaccounted-for Australians reflects clients reported by two operators, meaning the true total could be higher. The figure remains preliminary. "I can only outline the numbers that we are aware of to date," Wong said in Adelaide. She noted the government cannot rule out that independent travellers outside registered manifests are also missing.

Search teams face severe access hurdles. Wong described the terrain as remote and largely cut off by raging torrents, making the area reachable mainly by air rather than road. Officials have not reached the groups directly.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has deployed additional personnel, including crisis response specialists, to support its post in Nepal. Wong said she spoke by phone with Australia's ambassador to Nepal, Simon Ernst, and ambassador to China, Scott Dewar, directing both to do everything possible to establish the welfare of Australian citizens.

DFAT has not confirmed whether any of the missing Australians have been found. Wong declined to reveal where the group was last known to be, citing the need to notify next of kin first. She gave no call tallies.

Wong directly addressed Nepalese and Chinese diaspora communities in Australia, noting officials are in contact with community leaders. She also urged Australians in the region to register with Smart Traveller.

Nepal has not yet submitted a formal request for Australian aid. However, Wong said she expects a request will come given the scale of destruction. "Support will be needed," Wong said. She clarified that personnel deployed so far are consular staff rather than aid workers.

DFAT is coordinating with Nepalese authorities, the Red Cross and the United Nations. The department's Consular Emergency Centre can be reached on 1300 555 135 within Australia, or on +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.