Australian drone operators have landed in Nepal to assist with disaster response after a major earthquake struck the region, according to News.com.au. The deployment comes as the confirmed death toll has climbed past 1,200 people, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports.
The first Australian rescue team has also arrived on the ground in Nepal, with boots on the ground beginning search and support operations, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The drone operators are expected to support aerial assessments of damage and help locate people in areas that are difficult to reach on foot.
News.com.au reports that the Australian contingent is part of a broader international response to the earthquake and subsequent flooding in the Nepal-Tibet border area. The Guardian notes that two more Australians have been confirmed safe in the affected region, while The Canberra Times reports that families are pressing for information about loved ones still unaccounted for.
The scale of the disaster has prompted a coordinated push from Australian authorities to get personnel and equipment into the disaster zone quickly. The use of drones is seen as a key tool for surveying widespread damage and identifying where rescue efforts should be prioritised.
The situation remains fluid, with rescue teams continuing to search for survivors and authorities working to confirm the status of missing individuals. The coming days will likely determine how much the drone and rescue deployments can expand the reach of the relief operation.
