Parents of an Australian tourist found alive in Nepal on Friday have “praised God” after hearing from her for the first time since devastating floods swept through the country’s north killing at least 552 people.
26-year-old Cara Severino, from NSW, was hiking in the Langtan National Park when the floods crashed through the region on Wednesday.
She made contact with her parents, Debbie and Frank Severino, on Friday morning.
Sign up to The Nightly’s newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.
“We understand that (the hiking group) are attempting to reach Kathmandu on foot. We eagerly await more information about her safe return,” her parents said.
“We praise God that she has been able to make this brief contact with us.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were tirelessly trying to find the 26-year-old on Friday.
“DFAT is urgently working to get in touch with an Australian who has made contact with their family so DFAT can provide consular assistance,” a statement read.
A flood-affected area in Nuwakot, Nepal. Credit: NurPhoto/Getty ImagesSatellite imagery reveals the aftermath of the devastating floods along the Nepal-China border. Credit: Satellite image ©2026 Vantor
“We understand that they were last reported in a remote area, several days hike from Kathmandu. DFAT is urgently engaging with local authorities on plans to assist them.
“With that Australian accounted for by their family, there are now 38 Australians unaccounted for.”
Nepali authorities said at least 547 people have been killed in Nepal and five in Tibet as of Friday afternoon and 1,473 people have been injured, with more than 1500 still missing, including 38 Australians for whom grave fears continue to be held.
Red Cross warned nearly 100,000 people have been effected in some way.
“We believe that at least 93,000 people have been affected and are in great need,” David Fisher, head of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Nepal said.
“The trauma of this event is enormous.”
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 3,253 people had been saved from the destruction but new flood fears are threatening to derail rescue efforts.
A “barrier lake” formed by mud and debris begun to overflow on Friday forcing authorities to suspend search operations at the Nepal-Tibet border.
Nepal and China both issued warnings about an increased flood risk in the Himalayas as 3 million cubic metres of water are expected to flow into the lake over the next three days.
Satellite images of the region before and after the disaster showed the scale of devastation and masses of brown water accumulating in a basin with no visible outlet.
Missing Australians in the Nepal floods have been publicly identified – Sreedharan Iyer, 52, Lakshmi Iyer, 50, and their sons Rishab Iyer, 23, and Rudhra Iyer, 20, from Cherrybrook in Sydney’s north-west. Credit: Unknown/SuppliedMissing Australians in the Nepal floods have been publicly identified – Chitra Venkatraman, 46, and Venkatraman Balakrishnan, 52, a married couple from Western Sydney. Credit: Unknown/Supplied
Those in the area have been urged to seek higher ground.
“Residents of the lower banks … passengers, rescuers engaged in rescue operations, and all concerned are requested to exercise special caution and stay in safe places away from the river banks and risky areas,” the authority’s statement read.
Adding to the concern a new glacial slip was detected in the Himalayan border region resulting in about 50,000 cubic metres of ice and debris falling into the barrier lake.
Early on Friday, Australia confirmed a $5 million assistance package for communities along the Nepal-Tibet border.
“We have $2 million going to the World Food Programme, $2 million going through other agencies, Australian agencies, and a million dollars to Emergency Action Alliance and people are able to donate to that as well if they wish,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
The Minister offered her support to the Australian families of those currently missing in Nepal and Tibet, saying “our thoughts are with you”.
“In the first hours after the disaster, we identified some 35 Australians who were missing. We now have some 39 Australians who we know were in the region and have not been accounted for,” she said.
“We are working as hard as we are able to ascertain their whereabouts and their well being. These are an additional four who were not associated with the two tour groups that I described yesterday.
“We’re obviously continuing to take calls from families and friends of anyone who is in the region to make sure we are aware of any Australians who might be there, that work is continuing.
“I do want to say to the family and friends of the 39 Australians who we know at this stage are not accounted for, our thoughts are with you.”
Outdoor education leader Michael Keats named among 39 Australians missing in Nepal floods. Credit: Unknown/FacebookMissing Australians in the Nepal floods have been publicly identified – Sumi Adhikari, 41. Credit: Unknown/Supplied
Most of the 38 Australians reported missing were part of pilgrimage groups including outdoor education leader Michael Keats, 37.
Mr Keats was part of a group with the Trekkers’ Society which included fellow Australians Luke Costanzo, Sum Adhikari, Bharat Mangnani, Therese Spry and Uday and Kripa Shivamurthy.
Mr Keats’ sister, Karen Hayley, took to social media in a desperate plea to urge anyone with information to reach out to their family.
“There is still hope and we are holding onto that with everything we have,” she wrote.
“Time feels suspended somewhere between hope, prayer, fear and heartbreak.
“Nothing else matters but bringing him home.”
Tour group Kailash Journey has confirmed six Australians are among their missing travel group. That is in addition to one missing Australian travelling with Kathmandu Holiday Tours and Travels, and 15 who were travelling with US-based tour group Himalayan Glacier Adventures.
Shylaja Muralitharan, 42, her husband, Chandrasekaran Muralitharan, 47, and their two sons, Ashwin, 14 and Aarush, 11, are part of the 15 missing from the Himalayan Glacier Adventures group.
Missing Australians in the Nepal floods have been publicly identified – Kanagamah Sundrasan, from Queensland. Credit: Unknown/SuppliedMissing Australians in the Nepal floods have been publicly identified – Reshma Patel, 46, from Rankin Park near Newcastle. Credit: Unknown/Supplied
Ms Muralitharan’s sister Vaishnavi, who did not want her last name published, said on Friday that they last spoke to the north-west Sydney family on Wednesday morning.
“They were getting ready to have breakfast and waiting to go to the border to pass immigration … we couldn’t reach them after that,” she told the ABC.
“We haven’t heard anything more.”
She said her extended family was “distressed and anxious” as they waited for news.
“We want to keep our hope up that they’re OK and waiting to be rescued,” she said.
Vaishnavi said her sister and husband had “wanted their children to share the experience” of the pilgrimage.
“Family is very important for them,” she said.
The friends and family of Reshma Patel, a Newcastle woman who is missing in Nepal, have pleaded for information after they lost contact with her on Wednesday.
Ms Patel, 46, was at the immigration office on the Tibet-Nepal border on August 26 about “10 minutes before the impact”, Chin Valsan posted on Facebook.
Residents carry their belongings along a road heavily covered in mud following flash floods on August 27, 2026 in Trishuli, Nepal. Credit: Ezra Acayan/Getty ImagesAn injured child is treated at a field hospital inside a military camp, following flash floods on August 27, 2026 in Trishuli, Nepal. Credit: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images
“She was travelling back home after visiting the Kailash Mansarovar temple. She was with the Isha foundation pilgrimage group,” Ms Valsan posted on Facebook.
“If anyone has seen Reshma, has travelled with her, has information about her whereabouts, or has any contacts with local authorities, hospitals, rescue teams, tour operators, or pilgrimage groups in the region, please contact the family immediately or notify the nearest police authority.”
Her husband, Bhavin Patel, has caught a flight to Nepal and will land in Kathmandu on Friday night to help search for his wife.
Other Australians known to be missing include Umesh and Krishna Sharma who’s son, Chitrak, is desperately trying to reach them.
“I’m just trying to get in touch with my parents. I just want to know that they’re ok,” he said.
“I just want to hear their voice again. I just want to talk to them again. I want to see them again.”
Family of four Rishab Iyer, 23, Rudhra Sreesharan Iyer, 20, Sreedharan Iyer Iyer, 52 and Lakshmi Sreedharan Iyer, 50, also remain missing.
Their family friend, Nisha Khadka, said on Facebook some from that family were last known to have been in Kathmandu before the disaster.
“If anyone has seen them, has any information about their whereabouts, or has found them safe, please contact me as soon as possible,” Ms Khadka wrote.
Western Sydney couple Venkatraman Balakrishnan and Chitra Venkatraman are also among the large Australian contingent.
Their son has revealed he last spoke with his parents when they were near the Nepalese border.
As coordinated efforts continue on the ground in Nepal, ATVGP Medical has joined forces with the Nepali Association of Western Australia to send a range of medical supplies and equipment to the flood-ravage country.
The company develops all-terrain vehicles that are medically equipped for a range of environments in humanitarian disaster zones.
Now the Perth-owned company is coordinating its own piece of humanitarian effort at home.
“We have a massive supply of medical sundries and equipment,” chief executive Terrence Dewar said.
Mr Dewar said efforts on the ground have so far been really well-coordinated.
“We’ve always seen in our experience, it’s never enough.”
Community members gathered on Friday night to set priorities for buying, labelling, assembling and packing supplies.
“The stockpile of stuff we have ranges from bandages, first aid equipment, airway equipment and trauma equipment,” Mr Dewar said.
“It is a community in need. We’re here to help, every hour counts. The quicker we get out there the better.”
They hope to be airlifting aid packages as early as Monday.
