9 South Koreans missing in Nepal floods; government dispatches rapid response team

A large-scale flood and subsequent landslides in Nepal's central-northern Himalayan region have resulted in the disappearance of nine South Korean nationals. In response, the South Korean government has dispatched a joint rapid response team, comprising personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Police Agency, and National Fire Agency, to the affected area.

The devastating natural disaster has claimed at least 157 lives in Nepal, with an additional 403 people reported missing, including 341 foreign nationals. The floods, which began near the Nepal-China border, are believed to have been triggered by the collapse of a glacial dam, causing a massive surge of water. Some areas experienced a rapid rise in river levels of up to 9 meters within just 30 minutes.

Among the missing are nine South Koreans working at a hydropower plant construction site for Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility. While ten other South Koreans who were initially isolated have since been confirmed safe, the search for the nine missing individuals is ongoing.

In light of the serious situation, the Democratic Party of Korea has postponed a scheduled lunch meeting with President Lee Jae-myung. The government's swift deployment of a response team underscores the gravity of the situation and the commitment to supporting search and rescue efforts for its citizens abroad.