PUTRAJAYA, Sept 27 — Family members of the 55 Malaysians who remain missing following the glacial flash flood incident in Nepal arrived at Wisma Putra as early as 9 am today to meet with government representatives regarding the latest updates on the search efforts for their loved ones.
The closed-door meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for the families to receive detailed explanations concerning the search operations, as well as the verification and identification of victims, more than a month after the incident occurred.
The meeting is expected to involve representatives from the National Disaster Management Agency, the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart), the Royal Malaysia Police, the Department of Chemistry Malaysia, the National Registration Department, and the Social Welfare Department .
Today’s session is the second meeting following the government’s initial official engagement with the affected families on Aug 30, five days after the incident on Aug 26, even though not all families were represented at that time.
On Aug 30, a closed-door briefing for the victims’ next-of-kin and the collection of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples were conducted at Wisma Putra to assist in the identification process of bodies recovered in Nepal.
A Smart team comprising 11 personnel was deployed to Nepal on Sept 5, and they conducted ground searches and drone surveillance in areas approved and deemed safe by Nepalese authorities before returning to Malaysia on Sept 14.
Wisma Putra had previously said the team’s return did not mean efforts to determine the status of the 55 Malaysians had ended; Nepalese authorities are continuing search, verification, and identification operations, while Malaysia pursues diplomatic efforts with the relevant authorities.
On Sept 22, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim conveyed the concerns and hopes of the victims’ families to Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah and raised the need to establish a formal mechanism to assist the families should the Malaysians remain unaccounted for.
Floods and debris flows on Aug 26, triggered by an ice and rock collapse in the upper Lhende Khola catchment area in Tibet, reportedly claimed over 1,450 lives, while thousands more remain missing. — Bernama
Date: 27 September, 2026 11:43 am
Source: Malay Mail
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