{"id":86759,"date":"2026-09-03T04:42:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T04:42:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/86759\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T04:42:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T04:42:19","slug":"australia-sends-specialist-drone-operators-to-nepal-as-death-toll-reaches-1200","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/86759\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia sends specialist drone operators to Nepal as death toll reaches 1,200"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

“We all understand the scale of this disaster; we\u2019ve seen this through the media, the images are harrowing,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.<\/p>\n

“The Nepali authorities have responded by deploying, I think, some 20,000 people in search and rescue.”<\/p>\n

\"Senator<\/p>\n

The new deployment brings the total number of Australian personnel sent to help Nepal to 34. (ABC)<\/p>\n

She said 38 Australians were still missing and the government was deploying a team of 15 specialist drone operators to Nepal to assist in search-and-rescue efforts.<\/p>\n

Senator Wong said “we have grave concerns” for the Australians unaccounted-for.<\/p>\n

“Those concerns deepen every day, every hour that they remain unaccounted-for,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We all hold on to hope, and we must hold on to hope.”<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

The Queensland Fire Department will use drone technology to assist in Nepal. (Facebook: Queensland Fire Department)<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the team will include members from New South Wales Fire and Rescue and the Queensland Fire Department.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I thank the state governments of New South Wales and Queensland for that,” Prime Minister Albanese said, speaking in Palau.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Warning signs before glacier collapse<\/a><\/p>\n

A rapid hazard assessment of the Nepal-Tibet disaster says there were “pre-event indications” of the avalanche, including satellite imagery showing a change in the surface of the collapsed glacier. \u00a0<\/p>\n

“They\u2019ll leave Australia in the coming days as part of a 15-person disaster assistance response team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“This adds to the 19 Australian personnel who’ve already been dispatched to Nepal.”<\/p>\n

Senator Wong said the operators would use “advanced drone technology to provide mapping and thermal imaging to support Nepal’s search and rescue efforts”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I have made clear to Nepal that we stand ready to provide further search, rescue, and recovery assistance,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I think we would all understand that the conditions facing search and recovery teams remain extremely challenging.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Communications are difficult, infrastructure has been destroyed, and many areas are still difficult to reach.”<\/p>\n

Loading…<\/p>\n

Senator Wong said Nepali authorities were searching locations identified by Australia, including the Hotel Kailash and Hotel Royal Himalaya.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“In both areas, army personnel are conducting searches on foot with helicopter and drone support,” she said.<\/p>\n

“We are also providing telecommunication data to Nepali authorities, which may help narrow the last known location of missing Australians.”<\/p>\n

Do you know more or are you affected? Tell us here<\/a>.\"A<\/p>\n

The drone specialists will provide mapping and thermal imaging to support search efforts. (Facebook: Queensland Fire Department)<\/p>\n

The new deployment brings the total number of Australian personnel deployed to Nepal to 34.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mr Albanese also announced a further $3 million in humanitarian assistance to the flood-stricken country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“This matches the donations made by the Australian public who once again are showing their generosity to people in need,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“This brings our humanitarian package to some $11 million.”<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A drone view of the aftermath of flash flooding along the Trishuli River on August 30. (AP: Rajesh Kumar Singh)<\/p>\n

An RAAF C-17A loaded with relief supplies, including 1,440 hygiene kits, 576 menstrual hygiene kits, 2,200 solar lights and 432 shelter tool kits, arrived in Nepal yesterday at around 2.40pm AEST.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The government of Nepal estimates around 50,000 people are lacking immediate access to clean water, toilets and hygiene needs, according to non-governmental organisation Oxfam.<\/p>\n

Nepal-Tibet flood’s destruction<\/a><\/p>\n

Satellite imagery over the Nepal-Tibet areas hit by floods show buildings, bridges, and homes completely wiped from the map.<\/p>\n

“Nepal contributes just 0.1 per cent of global emissions, yet our communities are paying a devastating price as climate risks grow,” said Santosh Pandey, humanitarian and disaster risk management lead for Oxfam in Nepal.<\/p>\n

“Nepal’s devastating floods should be a wake-up call for governments and donors.<\/p>\n

“We cannot keep waiting for disasters to happen. In a burning world, climate shocks will become more frequent here, and communities need the resources to prepare, adapt and become more resilient before the next disaster strikes.”<\/p>\n

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