Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) Taiwan has prepared its national search and rescue team to travel to Nepal after a catastrophic flash flood struck near the Nepal‑Tibet border on Wednesday, officials said Thursday.

The government on Wednesday ordered the national special search and rescue team and rotating units from Tainan, Hsinchu City and Chiayi County to prepare for departure, National Fire Agency Director‑General Hsiao Huang‑chang (蕭煥章) said.

Although Taiwan has yet to receive a request for help, the national special rescue and research team will respond swiftly, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), to requests for rescue operations from affected countries, he told a news conference following the weekly Cabinet meeting.

At the event, Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) conveyed Premier Cho Jung-tai's (卓榮泰) deep sorrow over the disaster and the loss of ...