Nepal floods: What we know so far about unaccounted Malaysians and Malaysia’s relief efforts

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Nearly two weeks after devastating floods struck parts of Nepal and the Nepal-Tibet border, rescue and recovery efforts are continuing, with Malaysians among those still unaccounted for.

To date, at least 1,300 people have been killed and more than 5,500 remain missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet region.

Among the missing are more than 800 foreigners from at least 34 countries, including tourists and pilgrims who had travelled to Tibet to visit Mount Kailash.

Here is what we know so far about the Malaysians still unaccounted for and Malaysia’s response.

Still missing

On August 26, a torrent of water, mud and rocks swept through communities in Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region following a glacial collapse, causing an estimated Rs387.54 billion (RM10.3 billion) in damage, according to preliminary findings by the Nepalese government.

Immediately after the disaster, Wisma Putra initially confirmed that 55 Malaysian nationals reported to the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu as uncontactable due to severe disruptions in communications and electricity networks.

On August 29, the ministry further confirmed 36 Malaysians were reported as uncontactable in areas affected by telecommunications disruptions in China.

As of September 7, however, the ministry’s official records show that 55 Malaysians remain uncontactable, with verification efforts continuing through diplomatic channels with the Chinese government to determine whether reports of Malaysians in Nepal overlap with those in Tibet.

Among those reported uncontactable were Special Airborne Fire and Rescue Team (PASKUB) Senior Fire Officer II Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa and eight other members of his expedition team, including Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) deputy director of the Fire and Rescue Operations Division Mohd Sani Harul.

The group was reported missing after the four-wheel-drive vehicle they were using during an expedition to Everest Base Camp was believed to have been affected by flooding while travelling through a valley in Rasuwa.

Others missing include 49 Malaysian citizens across three tour groups who travelled to Nepal for trekking and religious activities, including Hindu pilgrimages.

Malaysian relief

On September 5, the National Disaster Management Agency deployed an 11-member Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to Nepal to assist in ongoing rescue and disaster relief operations.

The 11-member team will use high-capacity drones and specialised equipment to support operations led by the Nepalese authorities in areas requiring technical expertise and specialised operational capabilities.

In Malaysia, preparations for victim identification are also underway, including the collection and analysis of DNA samples from next of kin by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Department of Chemistry Malaysia, in coordination with the ministry.

Other Malaysian teams and organisations are also responding to the disaster, including a five-member team from United Sikhs Malaysia, a Malaysian humanitarian aid organisation involved in disaster relief and community assistance.

Mercy Malaysia has also deployed a humanitarian assessment team to Nepal to assess ground conditions and identify urgent needs, including emergency shelter, food, clean water, sanitation and healthcare.

In addition, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also pledged US$1 million in humanitarian aid to assist flood victims and support post-disaster recovery efforts.