KUALA LUMPUR — Fifty-five Malaysians remain uncontactable following the floods and landslides in Nepal and China, with efforts to establish the status of each individual still ongoing, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement, the ministry, also known as Wisma Putra, said the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), which returned from Nepal today, will brief Wisma Putra on its deployment and the information gathered during its mission.

During its deployment, SMART conducted search activities in areas that could be safely accessed and where operations were permitted by the Nepalese authorities.

The search included ground operations as well as aerial observations using drones, with the information gathered to be reviewed by Wisma Putra and relevant Malaysian agencies to determine appropriate follow-up action.

Wisma Putra stressed that the conclusion of SMART’s field deployment does not mean efforts to ascertain the status of the Malaysians have ended, nor does it change their current status.

“The 55 Malaysians remain recorded as uncontactable while the relevant processes to establish the status of each individual continue,” the ministry said.

According to the latest information received from Nepal, its authorities are continuing search, verification and identification efforts following the disaster.