Nepal Floods: One Malaysian Safe, 54 Others Still Uncontactable

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 3 – A Malaysian national previously listed as uncontactable following devastating floods and landslides in Nepal has returned home safely, while 54 Malaysians remain unaccounted for.

In an official statement released on Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) confirmed that the individual presented himself at the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu on October 1. Following identity verification and confirmation of his safety, he departed Nepal and arrived in Malaysia on October 2.

“With his status now confirmed, the Ministry’s record stands at 54 Malaysians reported as uncontactable,” the statement read. “The Ministry will continue to verify each case separately based on information obtained through the relevant authorities and available channels.”

Post-Return Procedures and Ongoing Verification

Wisma Putra stated that local authorities will record a statement from the returned Malaysian to finalize his case records, alongside conducting necessary health assessments following his arrival. The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu is actively cross-referencing records with Nepalese agencies to update official registries.

To respect individual privacy, Wisma Putra declined to disclose personal details concerning the returned citizen.

Shift to Search and Recovery Efforts

The update follows an announcement by Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority on September 30 stating that active search and rescue operations had officially concluded and transitioned into search and recovery phases.

Wisma Putra emphasized that the operational transition will not halt Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to account for its citizens. Verification work continues through Malaysian diplomatic missions in Kathmandu and Beijing, alongside diplomatic coordination regarding Nepal’s legal frameworks for missing disaster victims.

Direct updates regarding verified developments will be communicated directly to immediate family members, with the ministry requesting the public and media to avoid speculative reporting out of respect for affected families.

Background on the Disaster

The flash floods and landslides occurred on August 26, 2026, affecting Nepal’s Rasuwa district and the Nepal-Tibet border region. The disaster was triggered by severe rainfall and glacial ice collapses near the Bhote Koshi and Lhende Khola river basins.

The catastrophic surge caused severe damage to regional road networks, bridges, power infrastructure, and communications, isolating multiple border zones and delaying emergency recovery operations.

–NMT