55 M'sians unaccounted for following Nepal floods - Mohamad

Fifty-five Malaysians are still missing after severe floods struck Nepal, according to Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The minister, who chairs Malaysia's delegation to an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Doha, stated that the number remains unconfirmed by Nepalese authorities.

The information, sourced from travel agencies, is being cross-checked by the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu. Efforts to contact the missing individuals have been unsuccessful, leading the Malaysian Embassy to list them as still missing. Nepal's security agencies are currently conducting search and rescue operations in the affected areas.

However, the process is challenging due to damaged roads and bridges, making access difficult. The latest reports from the Malaysian Embassy and Nepal's Foreign Ministry indicate that the floods caused significant damage and resulted in numerous deaths, leaving a large number of people unaccounted for. Malaysia has dispatched additional personnel from Dhaka, Bangladesh, to Kathmandu to aid the local embassy in managing the crisis.

These extra personnel are tasked with monitoring the rescue operations, assisting Malaysian citizens, and coordinating with Nepalese authorities. The National Security Council will ultimately decide whether Malaysia will send rescue teams or other forms of assistance. Mohamad expressed his sympathies to the families of the missing Malaysians, praying for their safe recovery.