Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) planes are ready to rescue Australians stranded in the earthquake-hit Nepal, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Thursday.
Bishop said more than 1,400 Australians have so far been found, although some were yet to be located, Xinhua news agency reported.
About 80 Australians have sought refuge in the Australian embassy in Kathmandu since the earthquake hit Nepal.
Bishop said the federal government decided to airlift Australians out of Kathmandu because of deteriorating health and safety conditions and the limited availability of commercial flights.
Two RAAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft, currently packed with 15 tonnes of aid, are expected to land in Kathmandu later in the day.
"Our crisis response team has been able to locate and account for virtually all the Australians," Bishop said.
"There may well be some who are still there."
After off-loading the shelter kits and health supplies for survivors of the Nepal earthquake, the aircraft will take Australians to Bangkok, the minister added.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app