SIK, Aug 28 — The family of Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa, 44, a member of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department’s (JBPM) special forces team, who remains missing following the flash floods and landslide in Rasuwa, Nepal, is holding onto hope that he and his companions will be found safe.

His brother, Mohd Saiful Munir Mohd Isa, 46, said the family is choosing to stay positive and believes the communication blackout is due to the disaster that has struck the area.

He said the family has not stopped praying that the professional climber, better known as Loe, and his group will be located soon.

“But we also have to accept whatever comes, even if things take a turn for the worse,” he told reporters today.

Mohd Saiful Munir said the family does not see Loe’s trip to Nepal as unusual, given that his brother is deeply passionate about climbing and frequently travels abroad for climbing activities.

“You could say Nepal is like his second home… he goes there about three to five times a year,” he said, adding that Loe is also an avid cyclist.

Mohd Saiful Munir, who is an operations officer at the Port Klang Fire and Rescue Station, said the last time he spoke to Loe was about a week ago, before he departed for Nepal.

Based on the group’s planned route, he said they were likely in the valley area when the disaster struck.

“We’re treating this as a disaster where he’s essentially trapped and unable to reach out,” he said, adding that he will only rely on official information from the authorities.

Yesterday, media reported that two JBPM officers were among the Malaysians still uncontactable following the flash floods in Rasuwa, Nepal.

JBPM director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad identified them as Planning and Research Division deputy director Mohd Sani Harul and Central Region Academy officer Mohd Fakhrul Munir Mohd Isa.

The two officers are part of a group of 10 Malaysians on their way to Everest Base Camp. — Bernama