SINGAPORE - A Singaporean woman has turned to Facebook to appeal for information on her sister who is in Nepal and has not been in touch since April 18.

The woman, who goes by the name Ngiam Le Na on Facebook, wrote that her sister, Ms Ngiam Li Lian, had informed her family that she was going up to Lapchi Mountain and would be in the country's capital Kathmandu on May 1 or 2. Ms Ngiam is travelling with her friend Mitry Konchok.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 shook Nepal on April 25. The death toll has exceeded 4,000, with thousands more injured.

Ms Ngiam Le Na added that she understands that the roads to Lapchi Mountain, which is considered a holy site to Buddhists, are now inaccessible, and that the only way to reach it would be via helicopter.

Quoting a colleague of the missing Ms Ngiam, Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao reported that a monk from the area said that no one on the mountain is known to be in danger.

The colleague, Mr Luo Sang, 45, said that Lapchi Mountain, which is on the border of Tibet, is remote, and that communication is limited.

jalmsab@sph,com.sg