An Australian woman who was reported missing after flash flooding in Nepal has made contact with her family, more than two days after she disappeared.
Cara Severino, 25 or 26 according to conflicting reports, contacted her parents, Debbie and Frank Severino, on Friday morning from Gosainkunda, where she had reached with a group of Nepali hikers. Her parents said she had been stranded at Kyangjia Gompa, which was not in the direct path of the floodwaters.
In a statement, her parents said: "She was hiking the Langtang trek and was stranded. With communications down we had no contact."
They added: "This morning she was able to call us from Gosainkunda where she has been able to reach along with some other [Nepali] hikers. We understand that they are attempting to reach Kathmandu on foot."
The family expressed relief and hope, saying: "We eagerly await more information about her safe return. We praise God that she has been able to make this brief contact with us. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families awaiting news."
Severino is the first of 39 Australians reported missing in the disaster to have been confirmed safe, according to reports. Of the 35 missing Australians whose details were released by Nepali police, Severino was the only one not listed as travelling with a tour agency. The others were from four other groups, many of them organised to take part in the Mount Kailash Hindu pilgrimage in the region.
The catastrophic flash flood hit the China-Nepal border on Wednesday, killing at least 469 people and leaving more than 1,500 missing, according to officials.
Severino's parents, Debbie and Frank, confirmed that she had no phone reception and that her own phone had a flat battery, but that she had been able to contact them to say she was safe.