Families of Malaysians missing in Nepal following severe flooding and landslides continue to hold out hope for their safe return. Among those unaccounted for are fireman Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa and several other members of a hiking group caught in flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa district last week.

Mohd Fakhrul, 44, a Senior Fire Officer II with Malaysia’s Fire and Rescue Department, was part of a group of 10 Malaysians known as “Team Loe” who went missing during an expedition in the Langtang Valley area. The group reportedly became unreachable after flash floods struck the region, leaving families anxiously waiting for news.

His wife, Hani Othman, who traveled to Nepal to assist in the search, expressed cautious optimism. “There is still hope,” she said, amid ongoing efforts to identify recovered bodies at local hospitals near the disaster site. Mohd Fakhrul’s elder brother, Mohd Saiful Munir, 46, also a fire and rescue officer, is expected to join Malaysia’s Special Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), which is being deployed to Nepal to assist in search and rescue operations. He described the opportunity to participate as particularly meaningful, given the personal nature of the mission.

Another officer from the Fire and Rescue Department, Deputy Director of the Fire and Rescue Operations Division Mohd Sani Harul, has also been reported missing. His wife, Aziela Shaharuddin, took to social media to express her concern after five days without contact from her husband and his team.

In addition, the family of Muhammad Muhaimin Azhad Noor Hadi, a hiker from Penang and an employee of the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department in Penang, is anxiously awaiting news. Muhammad Muhaimin departed for the hiking expedition with two friends and was supposed to return on Saturday but has since lost contact with his family. His father confirmed that the family is monitoring updates provided by Malaysian authorities through Wisma Putra and continues to pray for his safe return.

The flash floods and landslides, triggered by heavy monsoon rains, have caused significant damage in the Nepal-China border area, complicating rescue efforts. Officials from both countries, along with international teams including those from Malaysia, are engaged in ongoing search operations as the affected families remain hopeful for positive developments.