Ground Search Team Reaches Nepal Crash Site and Uses Drones to Look for Nine Missing South Koreans

A South Korean government search team reached Dhunche, closer to the suspected accident site in Nepal, after difficult helicopter operations. It began a ground search and used drones, but reported no visible breakthrough.

The nine missing South Koreans are believed to have been at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower plant construction site. The team had initially planned to establish a camp near Ramche, about 1.8 kilometers from the site, but managed to travel farther into Dhunche and begin operations there.

South Korean officials said Nepal’s military offered cooperation after learning that the response team would travel overland toward the site. The two sides were continuing discussions about the next day’s plans. South Korea also asked Nepal to consider a formal deployment of rescue teams, rather than limited joint assistance.

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Our goal is to get there quickly and rescue survivors.

Two helicopter searches conducted Monday did not locate any of the missing South Koreans. “Our goal is to get there quickly and rescue survivors,” a response-team official said, adding that the team hoped cooperation with Nepal’s military would produce results soon.

Park Jae-kyung, who was appointed South Korea’s ambassador to Nepal on August 28, arrived in Nepal and met families of the missing people. “I have a very heavy heart as I take up my post in such a grave situation,” Park said. He pledged to make every effort to search for and support South Korean nationals.

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I have a very heavy heart as I take up my post in such a grave situation.