Anwar: Government Locating 54 Malaysians Unaccounted for in Nepal Flood Disaster

The Malaysian government is making concerted efforts to locate 54 of its citizens who are currently unaccounted for in the wake of devastating flash floods in Nepal's Rasuwa district. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Foreign Ministry is diligently monitoring the situation and mobilizing all necessary resources to ensure the safety and well-being of affected Malaysians.

Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu is working in close collaboration with Nepalese authorities and relevant agencies. To bolster coordination on the ground, officials from the High Commission of Malaysia in Dhaka, Bangladesh, are also being dispatched. This multi-pronged approach aims to expedite the search and rescue operations.

The Prime Minister expressed his concern upon learning that 54 Malaysians have not yet been reached. He urged all Malaysians to join in praying for their swift and safe discovery and for the facilitation of all search and rescue endeavors. International media reports indicate that the floods, caused by the overflowing Bhote Koshi River, have destroyed numerous villages and critical infrastructure, including roads and hydropower projects in the Rasuwagadhi-Timure area.

Other foreign nationals, including 142 Indians, 37 of whom reside abroad, as well as numerous citizens from Britain, South Africa, and the United States, are also reported to be missing or uncontacted following the disaster. The scale of the flooding has created a challenging environment for locating individuals and assessing the full extent of the damage.