{
  "id": 5678242,
  "title": "SMART Team to leave for Nepal today as search for 55 Malaysians continues",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/smart-team-to-leave-for-nepal-today-as-search-for-55-malaysians",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T00:36:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/126965/smart-team-to-leave-for-nepal-today-as-search-for-55-malaysians-continues"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), consisting of 11 members, will depart for Nepal today (September 5, 2026) to assist with search-and-rescue operations following deadly floods. The Nepalese authorities have officially approved the team's deployment, praising its high-capacity drones and specialized equipment. The team's assistance will be subject to operational requirements and safety conditions.\n\nAdditionally, a further team dispatched by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry has already reached Kathmandu, collaborating with the Malaysian Embassy to coordinate with Nepalese authorities regarding the search and identification of the 55 Malaysians still uncontactable. DNA samples are being utilized for identification purposes. In Malaysia, the government is also preparing for humanitarian assistance, promising USD1 million to Nepal. Meanwhile, authorities are urging the public to refrain from sharing unverified information while the search for the Malaysians continues.\n\nAs of Friday, the ministry reported 55 Malaysians classified as uncontactable. The ministry continues to maintain direct communication with these individuals' next of kin, sharing updates on search, verification, and related efforts. Information on individual cases is relayed directly to families, while public updates focus on verified developments. The ministry is also engaged with the Chinese Government, clarifying potential overlaps between reports of Malaysians in Nepal and those in Tibet. Malaysia has expressed readiness to offer search-and-rescue expertise to China should the need arise.",
  "summary": "MALAYSIA’S 11-member Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) will leave for Nepal today (Sept 5) to assist with search-and-rescue operations following official approval from the Nepalese authorities. The Foreign Ministry (Wisma P...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "UAE search and rescue team arrives in Nepal to boost urgent flood response",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/uae-search-and-rescue-team-arrives-in-nepal-to-boost-urgent-flood",
        "published": "2026-09-04T15:43:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "More than a week after Nepal’s deadliest flood disaster in years, here’s what we know so far",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/more-than-a-week-after-nepals-deadliest-flood-disaster-in-years-heres",
        "published": "2026-09-04T17:22:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Fresh flood fears in Nepal as landslide partially blocks Chaulani river in Darchula",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/fresh-flood-fears-in-nepal-as-landslide-partially-blocks-chaulani",
        "published": "2026-09-04T17:43:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Australian families hire helicopters to search cut-off Nepal villages",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/australian-families-hire-helicopters-to-search-cut-off-nepal-villages",
        "published": "2026-09-04T20:01:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Boots on the ground as first Australian rescue team arrives in Nepal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/boots-on-the-ground-as-first-australian-rescue-team-arrives-in-nepal",
        "published": "2026-09-04T20:33:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Boots on the ground as first Australian rescue team arrives in Nepal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/boots-on-the-ground-as-first-australian-rescue-team-arrives-in-nepal-5638376",
        "published": "2026-09-04T20:33:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "News Wrap: 2 men rescued from Nepal tunnel 9 days after catastrophic flood",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/news-wrap-2-men-rescued-from-nepal-tunnel-9-days-after-catastrophic",
        "published": "2026-09-04T22:45:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian Australia",
        "title": "Rescue of Nepal hydropower workers ‘triumph for humans and humanity’, tunnelling expert says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/rescue-of-nepal-hydropower-workers-triumph-for-humans-and-humanity",
        "published": "2026-09-05T00:00:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "FM Cho to visit Nepal for ministerial talks on massive flood response",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/fm-cho-to-visit-nepal-for-ministerial-talks-on-massive-flood-response",
        "published": "2026-09-05T00:53:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Smart team deployed to Nepal for humanitarian mission",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/smart-team-deployed-to-nepal-for-humanitarian-mission",
        "published": "2026-09-05T01:15:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "FM Cho to visit Nepal for ministerial talks on massive flood response",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/fm-cho-to-visit-nepal-for-ministerial-talks-on-massive-flood-response-5698192",
        "published": "2026-09-05T02:57:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}