Matt Shirvington, Host: Dozens of Australians are among those reported missing in Nepal after a torrential and deadly flood swept through an area on the Himalayan border.
Natalie Barr, Host: The number of missing Australians has increased to 39. With them among up to 1,500 people who have yet to be located. The death toll has risen to 389. Joining us now is the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong. Good morning to you. What's the latest information on the Australians in the region?
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning, good to be with you. Well, unfortunately, the number of Australians who are missing and not accounted for has risen to 39. So, that's in addition to the tour groups that I talked about yesterday. We have now ascertained four more Australians who were not travelling with those tours. We are urgently working to ascertain their whereabouts, to confirm their wellbeing and we are deploying more resources into the region because as you can see from the footage, it really is a very, very difficult situation.
Shirvington: Yeah. We'll talk about what our viewers can potentially do in a moment. But first off, you've announced a $5 million package in response to this disaster. What happens from your point of view, from Australia's point of view on the ground?
Foreign Minister: Well, we've got to do three things. The first is to do everything we can to find the Australians. The second is to get more Australian officers into the region. So, we've deployed additional officers. We've got about 20 people on the ground in Nepal. We're deploying additional teams to both help with consular services, that is helping Australians on the ground, but also to help with the humanitarian response. And the third thing is to provide assistance. And we've announced, as you said Shirvo, $5 million. $2 million will go to the World Food Program. $2 million will be delivered by Australian organisations who can assist on the ground. And we have $1 million towards what's called Emergency Action Alliance and that is where, if Australians wish to, they can also make a donation to dealing with this disaster in Nepal.
Barr: We think the flood was caused by a massive ice rock avalanche. Will you be updating travel advice for areas at risk of something similar?
Foreign Minister: We will keep updating travel advice as information comes in. So, what I have said is, Australians in the region, please make sure you look at the travel advice. Please make sure you listen and act in accordance with the advice of local authorities. The situation is obviously very difficult and very challenging. We'll certainly provide whatever information we can. Obviously, information can be very patchy in the context of this disaster.
Shirvington: Yeah, we'll stay across it throughout the day and beyond. And our thoughts with those directly impacted. Penny Wong, thank you.