11 SMART personnel depart for Nepal

Eleven Malaysian personnel from the Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) departed for Nepal on a mission to assist search and rescue (SAR) operations in areas affected by floods and landslides. The team, headed by Commander Abdul Manaf Che Isa, is equipped with multi-skilled personnel specializing in SAR operations, drone operations, logistics, communications, and technical support.

National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) Director-General, Meor Ismail Meor Akim, stated that the team is expected to remain in Nepal for 10 days. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, the team will receive an operational briefing before being deployed to designated locations, potentially including tunnel rescue operations.

The SMART team, along with 12.4 tonnes of SAR equipment, departed from Subang air base at 9 am this morning in a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) A400M aircraft. The equipment includes rescue gear, detection devices, communications systems, high-capacity drones, specialised tunnel rescue equipment, as well as a 4WD vehicle and a 10-tonne cargo truck.

Abdul Manaf emphasized that the team's mission is humanitarian, focusing on rescuing anyone in need of assistance, with a particular focus on Malaysians last reported to be in the affected area. The disaster has left a total of 55 Malaysians uncontactable, while 77 Malaysians, previously confirmed safe in Tibet and Nepal, have been transported to Kathmandu for further processing before returning to Malaysia.