Korean nationals missing after severe flooding at Nepal hydropower project site

A devastating flood in Nepal's Nuwakot district on March 26 has led to the disappearance of nine South Korean nationals working at the Upper Trishuli-1 (UT-1) hydropower project. The missing individuals are employees of Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power (KOSEP), companies involved in the construction and future operation of the significant energy project.

The UT-1 hydropower plant, located approximately 70 kilometers north of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, is a run-of-river facility designed to harness the power of the Trishuli River. With an installed capacity of 216 megawatts, it is a large-scale private power project aimed at boosting Nepal's electricity supply, which is expected to meet about 20% of the country's total power needs upon completion.

KOSEP has been involved in the project's development since 2011, marking its first power generation project in South Asia and its first joint development with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in a developing country. The company is slated to operate the plant for 27 years after its completion. Doosan Enerbility, under its former name Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, secured the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract worth $357.5 million in 2020. As of the first half of 2026, the project was reported to be 68.39% complete, with a scheduled finish date of December 30 this year.

Of the nine missing South Koreans, six are from Doosan Enerbility and three are from KOSEP. The Doosan employees were reportedly involved in on-site construction work, while the KOSEP personnel were engaged in construction management. Doosan Enerbility initially reported 15 Korean staff on-site during the incident, with five unaccounted for, later confirming an additional local Korean employee was also missing.

In response to the crisis, both companies have established emergency response headquarters. Doosan Enerbility has dispatched a team of eight, including its CEO, to Nepal to assist with search and rescue operations and support the families of the affected employees. KOSEP has also set up an emergency task force and plans to send personnel to aid in the rescue efforts.