President Lee orders urgent search for nine South Koreans missing in Nepal floods

President Lee Jae Myung ordered South Korean officials to intensify the search for nine citizens who went missing after major flooding in Nepal.

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Please make every effort to begin the search early through close cooperation with the Nepalese government and company officials.

At a Cabinet meeting, Lee called for close coordination with the Nepalese government and the companies involved. He said officials should actively pursue the additional deployment of rescue workers, helicopters and any available equipment if possible.

Lee said Nepal appeared to have requested cooperation and warned that conditions at the site were difficult because of the risk of further flooding and bad weather. He also stressed that the safety of search personnel required particular attention.

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If possible, I hope you will actively pursue the additional deployment of rescue personnel, helicopters and available equipment.

The nine South Koreans lost contact after flooding struck the Bagmati area of north-central Nepal on Aug. 26. Six worked for Doosan Enerbility and three for Korea South-East Power at a hydropower plant construction site. Lee also called for humanitarian assistance to Nepal and expressed hope that those missing would return safely, while thanking members of the rapid-response team working in dangerous conditions.

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There are concerns about secondary flooding and bad weather, and particular attention must be paid to the safety of the search personnel.