Families have been unable to contact more than 50 Malaysian travellers in Nepal following devastating floods, according to the charge d’affaires of the Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu, Mohd Firdaus Azman, as cited by The Star. The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse and debris flow, left hundreds of foreigners and Nepalese citizens unaccounted for.
Malaysians Unreachable After Flash Floods Strike Nepal
Road access to the affected region was severely disrupted by the Bhote Koshi River flood, prompting the Nepalese government to deploy helicopters for search-and-rescue operations. Mohd Firdaus stated that gathering information remains challenging due to extensive damage to communication infrastructure. The Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu advised relatives trying to locate travellers to email passport and travel details to [email protected] for coordination.
Glacial Collapse and Severe Infrastructure Destruction
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that a magnitude-5.2 seismic event occurred near the Nepal-China border at 8.37am local time on Wednesday. Although initially reported as a magnitude-4.4 earthquake, subsequent analysis of nearby seismic stations, long-period seismic waves, and satellite imagery determined the event was a glacial collapse and debris flow rather than an earthquake.
A sudden flash flood entered Nepal from the Chinese side through the Bhote Koshi river in the Rasuwa district, according to Nepalese authorities. The disaster swept away villages, bridges, and power projects. According to a Kathmandu Post report cited in media coverage, 19 bridges and 40km of highway were destroyed. Police halted vehicles travelling from Kathmandu toward the hardest-hit districts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading. CCTV footage showed buildings and vehicles at the border port of Gyirong in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region destroyed by torrents of water and mud.
Wisma Putra Coordinates Search and Rescue Efforts
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry, also known as Wisma Putra, reported that 11 Malaysian nationals believed to be in the northern Rasuwa district were out of contact due to severe disruptions to communication and electricity networks. The Embassy of Malaysia in Kathmandu actively coordinated with local authorities and search-and-rescue teams deployed by the Nepalese government, according to Malay Mail.
Wisma Putra advised Malaysians in Nepal to remain vigilant and register via the e-Konsular portal at https://ekonsular.kln.gov.my. For emergency assistance, the embassy can be reached via its emergency helpline at +977 980 100 8000 or through general lines.
Meanwhile, social media users shared anxieties regarding family members participating in expeditions near Annapurna and Tibet, with some noting that telecommunication networks in the region were down even where base camps remained distant from the flood zones.
Broader Regional Impact and International Response
The wider disaster death toll crossed 160 on Wednesday night, with hundreds of tourists and security personnel remaining unaccounted for. At least 142 Indian nationals were among the missing foreigners.
International responses poured in following the disaster:
- China: President Xi Jinping ordered all-out search efforts, with 3 deaths and 265 missing people reported on the Chinese side.
- India: Deployed a C-130J aircraft carrying 10 tonnes of relief materials and medical supplies, with additional C-17 and C-130 flights planned. Indian states Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were placed on flood alert due to rising water levels in the Trishuli and Gandak rivers.
- Bangladesh: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated readiness to provide needed support.
- Pakistan: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar offered full assistance to Nepal.
