{
  "id": 10209924,
  "title": "Family spokesman: Malaysia sought wider Nepal search for 55 uncontactable citizens, but access was limited",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/family-spokesman-malaysia-sought-wider-nepal-search-for-55",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T12:21:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/27/family-spokesman-malaysia-sought-wider-nepal-search-for-55-uncontactable-citizens-but-access-was-limited/236794"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia sought a broader search area for 55 uncontactable citizens in Nepal, but access was restricted, according to a spokesman for the affected families. Dr. Manivannan Rethinam, representing Families in Hope (MASFIH), revealed during a closed-door meeting with government agencies that the search and rescue (SAR) operation initially covered Rasuwagadhi to Syabrubesi in Nepal, but the Malaysian team was only allowed to operate in specific zones. Families pressed the Malaysian government to expand the search to Rasuwagadhi, a border region between Nepal and Tibet, which was considered a potential last known location for the missing. Malaysia's Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Mohd Firdaus Azman, explained that Nepal granted permission for the search area to extend from Timure to Syabrubesi. However, the team's search focused on areas C and D, which are not the primary locations where many of the missing Malaysians are believed to be. Families acknowledged the limitations of the SMART operation and expressed gratitude for the efforts made, while remaining hopeful the victims might still be alive. SMART, comprising 11 members, arrived in Nepal on September 5 and conducted searches using ground teams and drones in approved areas before returning to Malaysia on September 14. The families were also informed that Nepal would process DNA samples from the victims to match them with family DNA profiles, although the Nepalese authorities now possess the necessary expertise to carry out the process.",
  "summary": "PUTRAJAYA, Sept 27 — Malaysia initially requested that the search and rescue (SAR) operation involving 55 Malaysia...",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia sought wider Nepal search for 55 uncontactable citizens.",
    "Access limited, SAR operation confined to specific zones.",
    "Families hopeful victims might still be alive."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "World : 10 Missing After Avalanche Strikes Himlung Himal In Western Nepal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/world-10-missing-after-avalanche-strikes-himlung-himal-in-western",
        "published": "2026-09-27T09:29:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "10 missing after avalanche hits Himlung Himal base camp in Nepal; bad weather delays search ops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/10-missing-after-avalanche-hits-himlung-himal-base-camp-in-nepal-bad",
        "published": "2026-09-27T09:38:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Family spokesman: Malaysia sought wider Nepal search for 55 uncontactable citizens, but access was limited",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/family-spokesman-malaysia-sought-wider-nepal-search-for-55-10215584",
        "published": "2026-09-27T12:21:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}