Australian drone team arrives in Nepal as search for missing continues
SBS News
β’Sat, 5 Sep 2026 02:35:42 +0000
π° What Happened
Australia's 15-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) arrived at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on Friday night to join search-and-rescue efforts in flood-devastated Nepal, bringing drone operators and victim identification specialists. Additional support is on the way following a request for assistance from Nepali authorities. At least 36 Australians remain missing, with the federal government holding grave concerns for their welfare.
π The Backstory
A glacier collapse near Nepal's border with Tibet on 26 August triggered devastating floods that swept through towns and valleys across the country. Official figures released on Friday put Nepal's death toll near 1300, with almost 4800 people still missing, including 601 foreign nationals. Australians are among those unaccounted for, prompting the federal government to mobilise the specialist team in one of its major disaster-response deployments.
π― Why It Matters
The deployment shows Australia's commitment to finding its missing citizens and supporting its neighbours after a catastrophic regional disaster. With 36 Australians unaccounted for, the search has direct, personal stakes for families at home. It also demonstrates how drone technology and forensic identification are becoming essential tools in modern disaster response.
Australia's 15-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) arrived at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on Friday night to join search-and-rescue efforts in flood-devastated Nepal, bringing drone operators and victim identification specialists. Additional support is on the way following a request for assistance from Nepali authorities. At least 36 Australians remain missing, with the federal government holding grave concerns for their welfare.
A glacier collapse near Nepal's border with Tibet on 26 August triggered devastating floods that swept through towns and valleys across the country. Official figures released on Friday put Nepal's death toll near 1300, with almost 4800 people still missing, including 601 foreign nationals. Australians are among those unaccounted for, prompting the federal government to mobilise the specialist team in one of its major disaster-response deployments.
The deployment shows Australia's commitment to finding its missing citizens and supporting its neighbours after a catastrophic regional disaster. With 36 Australians unaccounted for, the search has direct, personal stakes for families at home. It also demonstrates how drone technology and forensic identification are becoming essential tools in modern disaster response.