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.
