At least 34 Australians, including two boys and their parents, are among the hundreds missing after flash flooding tore through parts of the mountainous border region dividing Nepal and Tibet.“To date we understand that at least 34 Australians are amongst those missing. We understand these Australians were part of a separate pilgrim dig and tour groups,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in an updatee at midday.“I am not in a position to provide any further details at this stage. “The government’s priorities to confirm the whereabouts and of these Australians and DFAT officials in Nepal and China are seeking to do that. The situation is a difficult one, obviously.”A US tour company has confirmed it had lost contact with one of its tour groups that included 15 Australians, including the boys aged 11 and 14. The oldest Aussie in the group was 64.The flooding began on Wednesday morning (local time) at the Bhote Koshi River on the Tibetan side following a suspected avalanche, with footage capturing entire villages swept away.The official death toll was at 160 on Thursday morning. Nepali authorities have warned that figure could surge.Senator Wong said she had tasked ambassadors in Nepal and China to “do everything they are able to do to ascertain the whereabouts and welfare of any Australians and invited them to contact me if they need further assistance”.“We are currently deploying further DFAT personnel including crisis response to the area and I have asked DFAT to ensure we do provide the support needed to these posts, particularly in Nepal,” she said. “The department will continue to engage with local authorities and tour operators.” Senator Wong added that she understood people are “very concerned about friends or family who may be in the region”, but stressed “access and information are limited given the scale of the disaster”.“We will do our best to ascertain whatever information we can,” she said.Anthony Albanese earlier confirmed that 34 Australians were missing.“Nepal is a developing country – it doesn’t have the resources that an event like that would have in Australia. So information is difficult,” the Prime Minister told News Corp’s Bush Summit in Dubbo, NSW.“Our thoughts are with all those who will be concerned about their loved ones today.”15 Aussies on missing tour A US-based tour company, Himalayan Glacier Adventures, has told the Australian Financial Review it had lost contact with 15 Australians on one of its tours in Nepal.“We have 15 Australians going on the Kailash tour with HG and all of them are currently unaccounted for,” a spokesman said. “Our office team lost contact with the trip leaders around 8.30 am yesterday local time. “Since then we have not heard from them or any of the guests yet.“Our CEO with a small team flew there, right after they were notified, to assess and aid but there were not permitted to land due to the ground situation.”The Kailash tour is a 14-day pilgrimage route from Kathmandu to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet.The Nepal Tourism Board confirmed one Australian registered with local agency Kathmandu Holiday Tours & Travel was missing.Intrepid Travel, which specialises in tour holidays to Nepal, said on Thursday morning all their travel customers and team members were safe. Of the 26 itineraries it operates in Nepal, just two pass through the affected region and neither of those trips was operating at the time of the flooding.“We are deeply saddened by the catastrophic flooding in Nepal that has impacted Timure, Rasuwagadhi, Syabrubesi and communities along the Trishuli River corridor,” Intrepid Nepal general manager Yalamber Rai said.“The scale of the disaster is devastating, with significant loss of life and reports of many people still missing. “Beyond the tragic loss of life, this disaster is expected to have lasting impacts on livelihoods, trade, tourism, local businesses and critical infrastructure across the affected region.”Another local tour agency running a pilgrimage group said 77 foreign nationals and 15 Nepali citizens had been reported missing.“We are making every possible effort to reach the missing individuals through available communication channels,” The Trekkers Society said.A spokesman from travel company World Expeditions said all its clients and staff travelling in Nepal were “safe and accounted for”.“We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely with our local ground operators and authorities,” the spokesman said.“Most Australians travelling to Nepal to trek or climb in the Everest region would not normally pass through the area directly affected by this particular event. “That being said, Nepal is a mountainous country and extreme weather can have wider impacts on roads, bridges, communications and access, so we are keeping a very close watch on conditions across the country.”A DFAT spokesperson urged Australians in the affected area to “follow the advice of local authorities”.“We are aware of a number of Australians in the area and Australian officials are urgently working to confirm their welfare,” they said.“We are liaising with local authorities as well as tour operators. We stand ready to provide consular assistance.“Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 (if calling from overseas).”Tourists registeredNepali charge d’affaires Tara Gautam said all tourists entering protected areas in the region were registered for safety, with authorities recording when they arrive, the reason for their travel and when they return.She also said it was a distressing time for the 300,000-strong Nepali diaspora in Australia.“They have their loved ones, their relatives in Nepal,” Ms Gautam told ABC’s Radio National.Several countries have issued statements expressing solidarity with those impacted by the floods. “We are deeply saddened by the devastating flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and surrounding areas,” an official statement from Australia, Britain, the European Union, Finland, France, Norway and Switzerland read. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster. We express our solidarity with the people of Nepal during this difficult time.“We encourage all those in affected areas to follow the guidance of local authorities and official safety advisories as the situation continues to evolve.” Avalanche likely causeThe International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Nepal said the flash flood was likely caused by an avalanche from a glacier, sending ice and rock into the rapidly rising river and blocking its path, leading to an enormous surge downstream.“Hydrological observations indicate the exceptional speed and magnitude of the flood wave,” a spokesman told The Australian.Video shows the moment the streets were engulfed in thick sheets of mud and water as the flood water flattened parts of the town. Footage from the flooding revealed the horrific devastation it has caused to the towns along the Nepal-Tibetan border, with hundreds of people being pulled from the mud, floodwaters and wreckage.Buildings have ben inundated with mud and water, with vehicles and trees submerged as authorities desperately try to save those trapped. More to comeRead related topics:Penny Wong