{
  "id": 6867408,
  "title": "Nepal floods: SMART team to return today or tomorrow, says Tok Mat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/nepal-floods-smart-team-to-return-today-or-tomorrow-says-tok-mat",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T04:58:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1531120/nepal-floods-smart-team-return-today-or-tomorrow-says-tok-mat"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) is set to return home from Nepal today or tomorrow, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The team had recently been deployed to Nepal to aid in rescue operations following severe floods in the region. Upon their return, they will hand over the drones Malaysia provided to the Nepalese rescue teams for their continued use. Foreign Minister Mohamad noted that the Nepalese authorities have not yet announced the end of their search and rescue operation, as they aim to avoid sparking public unrest or pressure on the Nepalese government. Around 5,000 people remain unaccounted for, and the authorities are cautious about declaring the operation complete. Malaysia's decision on whether to send another SMART team to Nepal will be based on an assessment by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma). The floods have claimed over 1,400 lives and left more than 5,000 people missing, with the fate of 55 Malaysians still unknown.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) is expected to return home from Nepal today or tomorrow, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.",
  "key_points": [
    "SMART team to return from Nepal today or tomorrow",
    "Provided drones to Nepalese rescue teams for continued use",
    "5,000 people unaccounted for, authorities cautious about declaring operation complete"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Malaysia's withdrawal of its disaster team sets back its involvement in Nepal's flood relief efforts, but leaves open the possibility of further assistance based on an agency assessment.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Pasukan SMART akan pulang, serah dron kepada penyelamat Nepal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/pasukan-smart-akan-pulang-serah-dron-kepada-penyelamat-nepal",
        "published": "2026-09-12T04:53:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Mission done, but not over: Smart team on way home as Nepal search continues",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/mission-done-but-not-over-smart-team-on-way-home-as-nepal-search",
        "published": "2026-09-12T07:15:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Family appeals for Smart team to stay, continue Nepal search",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/family-appeals-for-smart-team-to-stay-continue-nepal-search",
        "published": "2026-09-12T13:24:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Gujarat earthquake, Nepal floods & more: What is it about the date 26?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/gujarat-earthquake-nepal-floods-more-what-is-it-about-the-date-26",
        "published": "2026-09-12T13:40:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}