Local authorities have confirmed at least 68 people have died in a plane crash in Nepal.
The plane was flying between the cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara. It crashed into a gorge during its descent.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to TDA that an Australian was on board. A spokesperson said the Australian Embassy was “urgently seeking to confirm the welfare” of the Australian.
There have been nearly 350 deaths due to plane crashes in Nepal since 2000, and the European Union has banned Nepali airlines from European airspace since 2013 over safety concerns.
Yesterday’s crash was the deadliest since 1992, when 167 people were killed in a crash near Kathmandu.
Nepal’s government is investigating the cause of the crash. Authorities say the location of the plane has made it difficult to recover all bodies, but there have been no reports of survivors so far.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has declared a national day of mourning in Nepal.
