Malaysia’s rescue team off to Nepal tomorrow

 The foreign ministry says the 11-member team will use drones and specialised equipment to assist in Nepal’s search operations.

The Aug 26 floods and landslides have killed more than 1,280 people and left over 5,600 missing on both sides of the China-Nepal border, including at least 550 foreign nationals. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Malaysia’s disaster assistance and rescue team (SMART) will be deployed to Nepal as early as tomorrow to support search efforts following the floods and landslides in the country.

The foreign ministry said in a statement that the deployment followed approval from the Nepalese government, with the 11-member team equipped with high-capacity drones and specialised equipment to support operations led by the landlocked country’s authorities.

Nepal had initially declined offers from foreign search-and-rescue teams, saying its own rescuers were capable of handling the operations. It subsequently reversed that decision following diplomatic pressure.

“Malaysia has also conveyed its readiness to provide appropriate search-and-rescue expertise should such assistance be required by the Chinese authorities,” it added.

Wisma Putra also said 55 Malaysians were still out of contact in Nepal and China with efforts continuing to establish their safety and whereabouts.

An additional Malaysian team has also arrived in Kathmandu to assist the Malaysian embassy in coordinating with Nepalese authorities on search and identification efforts, including the use of DNA samples.

The ministry said more preparations for identification were continuing, including the collection and analysis of DNA samples from next of kin.

The Aug 26 floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border have killed hundreds of people and left thousands more missing, according to Nepalese and Chinese authorities. - FMT