{"id":1177902,"date":"2026-08-30T21:38:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T21:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1177902\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T21:38:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T21:38:34","slug":"messages-of-hope-from-home-hundreds-attend-vigils-for-nepal-and-tibet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1177902\/","title":{"rendered":"Messages of hope from home: Hundreds attend vigils for Nepal and Tibet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">As search efforts enter the fifth day in Nepal and rescue teams continue to comb through mud and debris for signs of life, hundreds gather across Australia for vigils honouring the flood-stricken region and the 42 Australians still unaccounted for.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Almost 9,500 kilometres away from the ongoing rescue operations in Nepal, crowds gathered at King George Square in Brisbane for a candlelight vigil organised by city&#8217;s Nepali community.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\"><a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-08-31\/nepal-tibet-floods-recovery-hydropower-tunnels-live-blog\/107095768\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/107095768\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nepal flash floods updates<\/a>: Follow this story as it unfolds with our live blog.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">TreasurerJim Chalmers addressed the hundreds gathered to share a message of support for the Nepali community.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;We appreciate the Nepalese community every day, but on days like today we are there for you,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) committed a further 12 response personnel after eight arrived in Kathmandu this morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"artwork drawn on concrete and decorated with candles\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df27a755a58f54019490a5e709d1126a.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">A candlelight vigil, organised by NAQ, attracted hundreds in Brisbane. (ABC News: Lottie Twyford)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The Australian government has also pledged a further $3 million to the recovery efforts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Mr Chalmers said some of the country&#8217;s &#8220;finest&#8221; had gone to the &#8220;majestic&#8221; Himalayan site to provide assistance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;Australia sends some of its finest people, we send millions of dollars in aid, but most of all I know that every single Australian at this very difficult time sends our love,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The Nepalese Association of Queensland (NAQ) says it has been a difficult time, with many hundreds dead and thousands missing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">It has thanked the wider community for their prayers and support as they wait for news of their loved ones.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hundreds gather for candle-light vigil in Brisbane\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5122551587380e6ce5047c7226621dd0.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Crowds gathered at King George Square in Brisbane. (ABC News: Lottie Twyford)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">NAQ president Tikaram Sarma found out today one his cousins was among the missing.<\/p>\n<p>More on the Nepal-Tibet floods<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;We still have hope. We can find many people,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;[But] it&#8217;s a difficult rescue mission.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">He urged anyone who could to donate to fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Brisbane grieves thousands lost in Nepal-Tibet floods\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8223f238c11851af46e7197a0ee88a37.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Brisbane mourned those lost in the Nepal-Tibet floods with a candlelight vigil. (ABC News: Lottie Twyford)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">In Darwin, about 100 people gathered on the steps of the Northern Territory parliament on Sunday evening, to light candles in memory of those killed or missing in the flooding disaster in Nepal and Tibet.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A group of adults with a child and baby\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0f0ed94388fb6064fb682d2487c7a99d.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Crowds gathered at the Northern Territory parliament in Darwin to light candles for those missing and killed. (ABC News: Dane Hirst)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Trilochan Sapkota from the Northern Territory&#8217;s Non-Resident Nepali Association\u00a0said in a speech that the tragedy in Nepal had reached far beyond its borders, and that each candle represented a life lost, and the hope that those still missing would be found.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"darwinvigil\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f1aeb991e1f142eab673b67ba83538e8.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Each candle represented a life lost, and the hope that those still missing would be found. (ABC News: Dane Hirst)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Student Simran Kandel said many local events and festivals had been cancelled in the wake of the disaster, and encouraged donations to the Nepali Prime Minister&#8217;s disaster relief fund.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"EmphasisedText_quote__TE6kn\"><p>&#8220;Even though there are thousands of people missing, we&#8217;re hoping that they arrive safely back home, and that&#8217;s why we collect here today to send our blessings to those people,&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>  she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">If you want to help support the thousands affected by the crisis, the ABC is supporting the Emergency Action Alliance member charities and their local partners. You can <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/gives\/nepal-tibet-floods\/107086434\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/107086434\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">find more information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As search efforts enter the fifth day in Nepal and rescue teams continue to comb through mud and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1177903,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[3843],"tags":[47442,728,16835,319239,317884,319238,70,16,15],"class_list":["post-1177902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-dfat","tag-environment","tag-floods","tag-himalayan-floods","tag-nepal-floods","tag-nepal-tibet-floods","tag-science","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/117186628622534683","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1177902","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1177902"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1177902\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1177903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1177902"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1177902"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1177902"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}