Sydney, Oct 17 (IANS): Fourteen Australians are still untraceable after they were trapped in an avalanche in Nepal on Tuesday.
Family members and friends are concerned after they have not been able to contact the trekkers following the blizzard that killed at least 27 people, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Friday.
Nepalese police said 161 people had been rescued - including two Australians - when they called off the search Thursday.
The department of foreign affairs in Australia said Friday that "reports estimate over 200 people were affected by the storm", which hit the Thorong La pass.
"The Australian embassy in Kathmandu remains in close contact with the Nepalese authorities who have advised there are no reports of Australian casualties so far in the incident," a department spokeswoman said.