Number of Australians missing in Nepal rises to ۴۳
The total number of Australians missing in the deadly Nepal floods is now ۴۳.
The department of foreign affairs has received more than ۶۵۰ calls in relation to the disaster.
Nepali and Chinese authorities confirmed an updated death toll of at least ۸۱۰ on Sunday.
More than ۳,۰۰۰ people are believed missing after flash floods triggered by a massive glacier collapse in the Himalayas on Wednesday engulfed Gyirong port on the Nepal-China border.
Key events
Australian personnel has not been able to get access to the Nepal flood zone yet, the assistant minister for immigration, Matt Matt Thistlethwaite, confirmed.
Speaking on ABC’s Radio National, Thistlethwaite said roads remained cut off in the disaster and most of the telecommunication infrastructure was down.
There has been about eight power stations that have been affected as well, so it’s very difficult to get into the area.
He said the Australian government had “offered support” to the Chinese government, with six Australians missing on the Chinese side of the border.
They’ve said at this stage they don’t require that support.
Australia to send $۳m in additional aid to Nepal
The government will send $۳ million in additional aid to Nepal, the foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has announced, bringing the total package to $۸ million.
Of this additional aid, the Australian defence force will coordinate $۲m worth of hygiene kits, solar lighting and other emergency supplies following a request from Nepal’s government.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will transport the first of these supplies from Queensland in the coming days.
In addition, the government will donate $۱ million to the Emergency Action Alliance (EAA) appeal, which has reached $۱.۴ million in donations from the public.
There is now ۱۴ Australian personnel on the ground in Kathmandu – including crisis response, consular officers and Australian Federal Police – to assist staff in the humanitarian disaster. Two more will be deployed this week.
Number of Australians missing in Nepal rises to ۴۳
The total number of Australians missing in the deadly Nepal floods is now ۴۳.
The department of foreign affairs has received more than ۶۵۰ calls in relation to the disaster.
Nepali and Chinese authorities confirmed an updated death toll of at least ۸۱۰ on Sunday.
More than ۳,۰۰۰ people are believed missing after flash floods triggered by a massive glacier collapse in the Himalayas on Wednesday engulfed Gyirong port on the Nepal-China border.
Good morning
Hello and welcome to Guardian Australia’s live coverage.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has confirmed Australia will send an additional $۳m in aid to Nepal after $۵m was announced last week.
The number of Australians missing in the disaster is now ۴۲, as loved ones await information in the flooding disaster.
Let’s begin.
