PETALING JAYA: The Foreign Ministry is still awaiting confirmation on whether any Malaysians were among the 31 foreign nationals rescued by Nepalese authorities.
This comes as two Malaysians have been reported safe while 55 others remain uncontactable.
“The ministry, through its diplomatic missions in the region, is cross-checking these reports against information obtained from the relevant Nepalese authorities and agencies,” Wisma Putra said in an update on the Rasuwa floods.
“In Nepal, local authorities have reported the rescue of 31 foreign nationals thus far. At this stage, the ministry has not received confirmation that any Malaysians are among those rescued,” it added.
Wisma Putra said it had also received information that some Malaysian nationals might have entered the affected areas through neighbouring China and India.
“In view of this, family members of Malaysians travelling in the wider region who have yet to register their presence are urged to provide their details to the ministry,” it said.
Malaysian diplomatic missions in the region are also working with the Emergency Response Team of Nepal’s Foreign Ministry and the Nepal Tourism Board to cross-check available information on Malaysians who remain uncontactable, it added.
Foreign Ministry Deputy Secretary-General (Bilateral Affairs) Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin said the two Malaysians had been successfully located, but their information and details were still undergoing cross-checking and further verification.
“Out of the 57, two have been reported safe so far,” he said, as reported by Bernama.
Wisma Putra’s operations room in Putrajaya is operating 24 hours a day until further notice to coordinate information and provide direct support to Malaysians in the affected areas and their families.
Family members with relevant information, including full names, passport numbers, travel itineraries, last known locations and contact numbers, are urged to contact the ministry at +603 8887 4570 or via dutyofficer@kln.gov.my.
They may also provide the details directly to the Embassy of Malaysia in Kathmandu at mwkathmandu@kln.gov.my, with a copy sent to the ministry’s operations room.
Wisma Putra said police, local authorities and residents in Nepal were continuing search and rescue operations across the flood-hit areas, while families were also being evacuated from locations at risk of further flooding.
“With road access severely disrupted and communications cut off across much of the affected region, helicopters are being used extensively in ongoing operations. Individuals requiring immediate medical attention are being airlifted to major hospitals in Kathmandu, while those with minor injuries are being treated at medical camps in the affected areas,” it said.
Meanwhile, 36 Malaysians in Tibet, China are reported to be safe following flash floods and landslides in the border area.
Syed Mohamad Hasrin said their identities and status were still being verified with Chinese authorities and that they are cross-checking for any overlap with the list of Malaysians who remained uncontactable in Nepal.
“We will provide an update if there are any names that overlap, including the actual number of our citizens who are still missing or have been found safe, whether in Nepal or Tibet,” he said.
