{
  "id": 4352474,
  "title": "Malaysia to send SMART team to Nepal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/malaysia-to-send-smart-team-to-nepal",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T05:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/30/malaysia-to-send-search-and-rescue-team-to-nepal-after-floods"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia is set to dispatch its Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to Nepal to aid in the search and rescue efforts following the devastating flash floods that have claimed 734 lives and left 2,498 people missing, according to the latest figures recorded today at 9am local time.\n\nPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the SMART team will not only locate and repatriate Malaysians affected by the disaster but also support the Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu with aid coordination. This decision was reached in collaboration with the National Security Council and the national disaster management agency, with the foreign ministry playing a key role in liaising with the Nepali government to deploy the team swiftly.\n\nIn addition to humanitarian assistance, Malaysia will contribute US$1 million to Nepal to aid flood victims and facilitate post-disaster recovery efforts, according to a statement released today.\n\nThe situation in Nepal took a shift yesterday when it initially refused foreign search-and-rescue teams due to the belief that its own rescuers could handle the operation. However, diplomatic pressure from countries whose nationals are still missing prompted Nepal to reconsider and seek limited international assistance, particularly for tunnel rescues, DNA testing, and forensic examinations.\n\nCurrently, 55 Malaysians remain uncontactable in Nepal following the floods that struck on August 26, as of 8pm yesterday. Meanwhile, the Nepal Tourism Board reported that 261 foreign tourists had been rescued by 6pm yesterday, with another 320 still unaccounted for.",
  "summary": "Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says local officials are coordinating with the Nepali government to deploy the team as soon as possible.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : Nepal Floods: Malaysia Deploys SMART Team, Contributes US$1 Mln",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/general-nepal-floods-malaysia-deploys-smart-team-contributes-us-1-mln",
        "published": "2026-08-30T03:54:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Malaysia to send SMART team to Nepal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/malaysia-to-send-smart-team-to-nepal-4354188",
        "published": "2026-08-30T05:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Malaysia sends Smart team, US$1mil aid to flood-hit Nepal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/malaysia-sends-smart-team-us-1mil-aid-to-flood-hit-nepal",
        "published": "2026-08-30T05:28:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "PM: Malaysia sends SMART team to locate missing citizens in Nepal, commits US$1m aid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/pm-malaysia-sends-smart-team-to-locate-missing-citizens-in-nepal",
        "published": "2026-08-30T05:51:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Nepal issues fresh flood warning as 3,000 still missing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/nepal-issues-fresh-flood-warning-as-3-000-still-missing",
        "published": "2026-08-30T06:59:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "UAE sends 83 tonnes of urgent aid to flood-hit Nepal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/uae-sends-83-tonnes-of-urgent-aid-to-flood-hit-nepal",
        "published": "2026-08-30T07:09:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}