Malaysian SAR Effort In Nepal Begins

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), which is mobilised to assist rescue efforts for earthquake victims in Nepal, departed for Kathmandu at 6.30 am Monday. National Security Council (NSC) Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab said the team, comprising 30 SMART personnel and 20 doctors departed from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang by RMAF flight C-130. "Our three main missions is to help in search and rescue efforts, treat victims by setting up field hospitals and bringing back Malaysians to Nepal," he said when contacted here Monday. He said the 20 medical doctors are members from Mercy Malaysia, Malaysian Red Crescent and Malaysian Army Medical Corps. The earthquake which measured 7.9 on the Richter scale hit Nepal in the areas between the capital, Kathmandu and Pokharaat 2.56 pm (Malaysian time) on Saturday with several after shocks occurring. So far the tragedy, the worst to have hit Nepal in the last 81 years, recorded 3,218 deaths and over 6,500 people injured. -- BERNAMA