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Australian air force planes ready to rescue Australians stranded in Nepal

Xinhua, April 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australian air force planes are ready to rescue Australians stranded in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, which was hit by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake Saturday, said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop Thursday.

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, noting that two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17 Globemaster aircraft, currently packed with 15 tons of aid, are expected to land late on Thursday afternoon but may be delayed.

Only a few Australians remain unaccounted for in Nepal as military transport jets prepare to transport Australians out of the earthquake-affected country, he said.

Bishop said that more than 1400 Australians had so far been found, although some were yet to be located.

"Our crisis response team has been able to locate and account for virtually all 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, Bishop said.

The single-runway Kathmandu airport, Nepal's only international airport, is inundated with commercial, aid agency and government aircraft, with only nine parking spots for aircraft.

About 80 Australians have sought refuge in the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu since the earthquake, waiting for an opportunity to leave the country. Endi