An 11-member Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) has been deployed to Nepal to assist in the search for 55 Malaysians who remain uncontactable following deadly flash floods and mudslides near the Nepal-China border. The team, which includes a commander and ten personnel with specialized skills, departed Malaysia aboard a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) A400M Atlas aircraft at 9 a.m. and arrived in Kathmandu at approximately 2 p.m. local time on September 5. Accompanying them were 31 RMAF personnel.

The operation, expected to last up to 10 days, will center on locating the missing Malaysians, particularly in the areas where they were last known to be, although officials emphasize that rescue efforts will not be limited solely to Malaysian nationals. “We do not differentiate between victims,” said Datuk Meor Ismail Meor Akim, director-general of the National Disaster Management Agency, highlighting the mission’s humanitarian focus.

Upon arrival, the team is scheduled to receive briefings from the Malaysian representative stationed in Nepal as well as Nepali authorities to finalize their area of operation, which may include a tunnel area identified from initial information. The team’s deployment is supported by 12.4 tonnes of specialized equipment, including communication systems, high-capacity drones, and gear tailored for tunnel rescue operations.

Senior Fire and Rescue Officer 1 Abdul Manaf Che Isa, commander of SMART, reiterated the clarity of their mission as humanitarian. The team will first undergo a briefing session in Kathmandu before proceeding to their designated location based on situational needs and operational requirements.

The disaster occurred on August 26, when massive flash floods and mudslides struck the region near the Nepal-China border, causing widespread devastation. As of September 4, 55 Malaysians in Nepal remained uncontactable, prompting the Malaysian government’s urgent deployment of the search and rescue contingent.

The SMART team includes experts in search and rescue, drone piloting, logistics, communications, and technical support, providing a multifaceted approach to the complex rescue operation underway in Nepal.