Malaysian man missing in Nepal floods finally found after 37 days

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One of the 55 Malaysian nationals missing after the devastating Nepal-Tibet floods has finally been found after 37 days and has safely returned home, a group representing the individuals has announced.

The group, named Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (Masfih), said on Friday that the missing person – a Chinese Malaysian solo traveller who had gone to Nepal – reported themselves to the Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu.

“For Masfih and the other families, the finding of a safe Malaysian 37 days later is an extremely relieving and meaningful development,” Masfih spokesperson Manivannan Rethinam said in a statement.

The devastating floods, triggered by a Himalayan glacier collapse and avalanche near Langtang Lirung, claimed the lives of over 1,400 people, with more than 5,000 people still missing in Nepal, with hundreds unaccounted for in neighbouring Tibet and China.

The glacial collapse generated energy equivalent to a 5.2-magnitude earthquake, triggering the floods and landslide, according to analysis by the US Geological Survey.

The Malaysian foreign ministry said on 27 August that 55 Malaysians who reported to its embassy in Kathmandu were uncontactable following the floods.

After 37 days, one of the 55 missing Malaysians has made their way back home.

“We were informed that the person was at Nagthali Viewpoint at 3.26pm on 25 August, which was one day prior to the devastating floods,” Mr Rethinam said.

“Based on the information given by the person’s next of kin, the person was stranded temporarily due to the destruction of the roads and bridges in the area, alongside the absence of electricity and water supplies,” he said.

Search and rescue of missing individuals was slowed down by poor transportation and communication networks in affected areas.

Foreign nationals from over 30 countries remain missing, including people from India, the US, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia, and the UK.

Over 180 Indians, 65 Americans, 54 Malaysians, 54 Ukrainians, 37 Chinese, 33 Australians, 33 Latvians, 32 British, and 30 Canadians are still missing, Nepal’s Department of Tourism said in an update on 17 September.

So far, authorities have recovered over 1,400 bodies, but identification remains a major challenge despite Nepal launching a large-scale DNA identification program, the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.

Officials estimate that Nepal would require nearly $5 billion for initial recovery efforts.

Mr Rethinam said the Malaysian organisation is waiting to meet with the Nepali prime minister physically.

“These requests are not just to express our concerns but also for us to get a better understanding about steps moving forward for the next of kin, developments for the past 38 days and also aspects that require further attention and action at the highest levels of the government,” he said.

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