Malaysia's SMART team stands ready for Nepal flood rescue mission

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 31 — Malaysia's elite disaster response unit has positioned itself to rapidly deploy to Nepal if called upon to assist with search and rescue operations in the aftermath of devastating floods affecting the South Asian nation.

The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) said it is in a state of full readiness, with personnel and equipment mobilised and standing by for clearance from the Nepalese government to enter the country. Officials indicated that once formal approval is received, deployment could commence with minimal delay.

The move reflects Malaysia's ongoing commitment to regional disaster response and international humanitarian assistance. SMART, which operates under the purview of Malaysia's disaster management framework, has been activated to respond to major emergencies across Asia in previous incidents.

Nepal has been grappling with the aftermath of heavy monsoon rains that have triggered widespread flooding and landslides across multiple districts. The exact toll of the disaster remained fluid as rescue efforts continued on the ground.

Malaysian authorities said they remain in communication with their Nepalese counterparts to facilitate the team's potential deployment. The timing of any mission would depend on both operational requirements in Nepal and the green light from Kathmandu's administration.