Kuala lumpur: Two of the 57 Malaysians previously reported as untraceable following flash floods and landslides in Nepal have been located, while 55 others remain unreachable. This update was provided by Foreign Ministry Deputy Secretary-General (Bilateral Affairs) Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin, who confirmed that the two Malaysians have been found, although their information is still undergoing verification.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Syed Mohamad Hasrin emphasized the importance of cross-checking to confirm the identity, location, and status of the individuals to prevent duplication in the list of untraceable Malaysians. The remaining 55 individuals' status is still being verified with information from Nepalese authorities and related agencies.
The Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, has instructed the ministry to monitor the situation closely and intensify efforts to trace the remaining Malaysians. An official from the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka has been dispatched to Kathmandu to support the operations of the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal.
Syed Mohamad Hasrin stated that the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu is working with Nepalese authorities, the Nepalese Foreign Ministry's emergency response team, the Nepal Tourism Board, and other agencies to gather and verify information on the missing Malaysians. So far, 528 individuals have been rescued by Nepalese authorities, including 490 Nepalese and 38 foreigners, but no Malaysians have been identified among them.
The flash floods and landslides in the Rasua district, triggered by the overflow of the Bote Koshi River on August 26, have severely damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges, and disrupted electricity and communication networks. This has complicated access to affected areas, hampering search and rescue efforts and the collection of information on Malaysians there.
Syed Mohamad Hasrin noted that safety warnings from Nepalese authorities regarding potential water overflows from border areas are being monitored by the ministry, which acknowledges the challenging conditions in the affected areas. Rapidly changing safety conditions and weather-related constraints continue to pose challenges to search and rescue operations.
The Foreign Ministry's operations room in Putrajaya is running 24/7 to coordinate information, assist Malaysians in affected regions, and provide updates to families. Every piece of information received is cross-checked with lists from Nepalese authorities and the ministry's records to prevent duplication or confusion.
The number of unreachable Malaysians was gathered from various sources, including Nepalese authorities, the Nepal Tourism Board, tour operators, and family members. In the initial hours after the operations room was activated, the ministry received numerous calls from family members and friends seeking information on Malaysians in Nepal.
Families with relevant information are urged to contact the operations room in Putrajaya at +603 8887 4570 or via email at [email protected].