Australian drones, telco data sent to help Nepal search

Australian drones and telecommunication data are being utilized to assist Nepalese authorities in the search for 38 missing Australians following catastrophic floods. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong expressed deepening concerns over the missing individuals as the death toll exceeded 1200. Nepali army rescue teams will conduct searches on foot, with helicopter and drone support in locations where Australians were believed to be staying.

A team of six drone operators, four incident management specialists, and personnel from the Queensland Fire Department will join Australian Disaster Assistance Response Team in using advanced drone technology for real-time imagery, geospatial information, and mapping of affected regions. The AI capabilities, thermal imaging, built-in speakers, and spotlights will help find victims and communicate with potentially trapped individuals in the mountainous region.

Nepali authorities will receive telecommunication data to narrow down the last known locations of missing Australians. The federal government pledged an additional $3 million to match public donations, bringing the humanitarian support package to $11 million.