Taupo man in Nepal not on missing list (+ video)

Nepal policemen cordon off the area as they and US rescue workers prepare to rescue those trapped after the earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal. PHOTO/ AP

It is still unclear whether a Taupo man is missing in Nepal a week after a large earthquake struck the nation.

Peter Donald McLeod, 62 along with Peter Joseph Curreen, 63, from Marlborough, Doug Erin Sealy, 31, from Wellington are still believed to be unaccounted for following the 7.8 magnitude quake which devastated large swathes of the land-locked Himalayan country last Saturday.

Mr McLeod was listed as missing on the site earlier this week. His name no longer appears, but it is unclear if he has been found.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) said it "does not hold grave concerns" for the missing men, but "is continuing its attempts to locate those still missing".

"We have now confirmed the well-being of around 260 New Zealanders in Nepal with only a few New Zealanders unaccounted for," a ministry spokesman said in a statement.

"For privacy reasons we are not releasing details of individuals.

"With respect to New Zealanders unaccounted for, the Ministry is in touch with family members who have provided us with contact details

"Consular staff are actively engaging with local authorities in Nepal and continue to follow up leads including those being provided by families."

Anyone who has concerns about a relative believed missing in Nepal, and who is yet to inform Mfat, is asked to contact 04 439 8000.

The Ministry advised against all tourist and other non-essential travel to Nepal.

THE MISSING:
* Peter Donald McLeod, 62, from Taupo, was listed as missing on the Red Cross Family Links website earlier this week. His name no longer appears, but it is unclear if he has been found.

* Peter Joseph Curreen, 63, from Marlborough, is thought to have been near Jiri, in the Dolakha District east of Kathmandu, when the earthquake struck. It is believed he was most likely trekking by himself or with a small unorganised group, and had been making his way to join a trek to Everest Base Camp. He has not made contact with his family.

* Doug Erin Sealy, 31, from Wellington, was volunteering as a teacher in India, and was due to travel to Kathmandu to renew his visa. His mother last heard from him the day before the earthquake, prior to his scheduled bus journey to the border. He has not been heard from since. However, a transaction on his credit card, dated April 28, has given the family hope he was safe and well.

TO DONATE:
* World Vision: Nepal Earthquake Appeal visit worldvision.org.nz on 0800 90 5000
* Unicef: Visit unicef.org.nz/nepal or call 0800 243 575
* Oxfam: Visit oxfam.org.nz or call 0800 600 700
* Red Cross: Visitredcross.org.nz or call 0800 RED CROSS (0800 733 276)
* ChildFund New Zealand: Visit childfund.org.nz/Nepal-Earthquake-Appeal or call 0800 808 822
* Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand: Visit caritas.org.nz or call 0900 4 11 11
* New Zealand Nepal Society: Donations can be made to bank account number 01-0142-0053378-00
* Himalayan Trust Rebuild Appeal: Visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/nepalearthquake
* TEAR Fund: Visit tearfund.org.nz or call 0800 800 777
* Save the Children: Visit savethechildren.co.nz or call 0800 167 168
* International Nepal Fellowship: Visit inf.org/earthquake-appeal-new-zealand
* Habitat for Humanity New Zealand: Visit www.habitat.org.nz/donate
* The Leprosy Mission New Zealand: Visit leprosymission.org.nz/nepal or 0800 862 873

KEY FACTS:
* 6250 dead.
* 14,400 injured.
* 160,800 houses destroyed, and 143,700 houses damaged.
* 3 million in need of food assistance.
* 8.1 million in need of humanitarian assistance.
* US$61 million of humanitarian pledges, commitments and contributions have been provided for the Nepal earthquake response.
* US$415 million needed for vital humanitarian relief, according to the UN.
(Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)