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The wife of a Fire and Rescue Department Special Air Unit officer, who was reported missing in Nepal after the devastating flash floods, has flown to Kathmandu to get updates on the search for her husband
According to Bernama, Hani Othman said she decided to travel to Nepal alone because she could not bear to simply wait at home without knowing what was happening.
"I decided to take the initiative myself to get an update because I cannot simply stay at home and cry. I must do something.
"I am travelling alone, but I have friends and my husband's acquaintances there who are ready to help. The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu has also been informed of my arrival," she told the national news agency.
Hani's husband, Fire and Rescue Department Senior Fire Officer II Mohd Fakhrul Munir, in his 40s and known fondly as Loe, was reported missing while en route to Everest Base Camp
According to the New Straits Times, Mohd Fakhrul's family believes his group was in the valley when the floods hit, based on their planned route.
However, they remain hopeful that nothing untoward has happened to him, as he is an experienced climber who travels to Nepal three to five times a year. The family believes communication was cut off due to the extent of the disaster.
His colleague, deputy director of the Fire and Rescue Operations Division Mohd Sani Harul, was also on the same expedition.
The two officers are believed to be among a group of 10 Malaysians travelling to Everest Base Camp and have not been heard from since the disaster.
As of 30 August, the Foreign Ministry said 55 Malaysians remained uncontactable in Nepal following the catastrophic flood and mudslide that struck the Trishuli River on 26 August.
A drone view of mud-covered properties following the catastrophic floods at the Trishuli River in Nepal on 26 August.
Having landed in Kathmandu on Saturday, 29 August, Hani said she is hoping to join a volunteer team to distribute aid to survivors and possibly help find her husband
Hani was seen crowdfunding on social media to pack rescue kits and essential supplies for victims affected by the floods.
As of 1 September, she said she was awaiting approval from the Nepalese government to enter the disaster area to distribute the aid.
In the meantime, Hani said she, her family, and close friends have continued to hold special prayers for the safety and wellbeing of her husband and the other missing Malaysians.
Seven days after the disaster, Nepal is still grappling with the enormous scale of the devastation
The death toll from the floods has risen to 987, while 3,916 people remain unaccounted for, according to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, reported CNN.
A total of 11,814 people have been rescued, while 279 others have been injured.
The floods and landslides have destroyed roads, bridges, and even telecommunications infrastructure, making search and rescue efforts especially challenging.
