Australia deploys drone team to Nepal as flood death toll climbs to 1,200

In response to catastrophic flash flooding in Nepal, Australia is dispatching a team of 15 drone specialists to support ongoing rescue operations, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. The drones will provide high-resolution maps and thermal images to help locate victims in hard-to-reach areas such as Hotel Kailash and Hotel Royal Himalaya. The aid effort now includes 34 Australian personnel, with firefighters from New South Wales and Queensland joining the mission.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a further $3 million in humanitarian assistance, raising the total aid to about $11 million. The floods have claimed around 1,200 lives and left roughly 4,200 people missing, including 38 Australians. Australia also delivered relief supplies via an RAAF C-17A, containing hygiene kits, solar lights and shelter tools, while Oxfam warned that about 50,000 Nepalese lack basic water and sanitation.