‘Grave concerns’: Penny Wong on missing Australians in Nepal floods as NSW man confirmed dead

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has addressed reports of an Australian confirmed dead by his family as a result of last week’s Nepal floods.

Michael Keats from Mollymook on the New South Wales South Coast had reached the Nepal-Tibet border with a travel group moments before disaster struck.

“My thoughts are with Mr Keats’ family and with all the families and friends of the 43 Australians who are currently unaccounted for and whose welfare we are urgently seeking to confirm,” Ms Wong told News24.

She said the government has received official confirmation of the Australian man’s death, but it respects the family’s rights to make a public statement.

She claimed the federal government holds grave concerns for the 43 missing Australians’ safety.