Australia sends specialist drone operators to Nepal as death toll reaches 1,200
Australia is deploying a team of 15 specialist drone operators to Nepal to assist in search-and-rescue operations following devastating flash flooding. The disaster has resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and thousands of missing persons.
Why it matters
International humanitarian aid is critical for disaster recovery in Nepal, where the scale of the flooding has overwhelmed local search-and-rescue resources.
The death toll in Nepal has reached 1,200 with thousands more missing. ( Reuters: Francis Mascarenhas )
Australia will deploy a team of drone specialists to support Nepal's search-and-rescue efforts following devastating flash flooding.
The latest figures put the death toll around 1,200, with the number of missing rising to 4,200.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australians must "hold on to hope" as Nepali authorities search areas identified by the Australian government.
Link copied Share Share article Australia is ramping up its humanitarian aid and deploying drone specialists to Nepal as the latest death toll was placed around 1,200, with around 4,200 people still missing.
"We all understand the scale of this disaster; we’ve seen this through the media, the images are harrowing," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
"The Nepali authorities have responded by deploying, I think, some 20,000 people in search and rescue."
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