‘Don’t need help’: Nepal declines foreign rescue teams as flood death toll nears 500

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 28 — The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is prepared to swiftly deploy its Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Malaysia (STORM) team to Nepal should the government request it, even with minimal notice. Director-General Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad revealed the team's readiness, emphasizing their specialized skills and the necessary documentation to enable rapid deployment.

The STORM team's preparedness stems from JBPM's past experience in a search and rescue mission in Turkey, where personnel and travel documents had to be prepared in advance. Despite ongoing efforts, JBPM has been unable to establish contact with nine hikers, including two department officers and a local agent, since morning. Nor Hisham expressed hope that communication lines could be restored, allowing them to obtain information about the hikers' location and condition.

The group, comprising experienced hikers, embarked on a trekking expedition on August 24, with most of the journey covered by four-wheel-drive vehicles and only the final one to two hours requiring foot travel. The last communication from the group was received during breakfast, but it remains unclear whether they remained at their accommodation or had already begun their journey.

The last known location suggests they may have reached the higher trekking route if they set off around 8:30 am. JBPM is closely coordinating with the families of the officers involved, utilizing various channels and contacts in Nepal to gather the latest information. The communities affected by recent floods and landslides in Nepal have reported a death toll of 389 and 466 injuries.