Second government rescue team arrives in Nepal to search for 9 missing South Koreans

A second South Korean government rescue team, along with Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won, arrived in Nepal on Saturday to begin an intensified search for nine South Koreans missing since a devastating flood. The group includes employees from Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power who were working on the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower plant project.

The missing individuals were in an area affected by severe flooding along the Trishuli River. The arrival of the second government team, following an initial deployment on August 27, signals a ramped-up effort to locate and rescue the citizens. The government team is scheduled to brief reporters on the search situation in Kathmandu.

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We will cooperate closely with the government response team to ensure a swift rescue.

Access to the disaster site is challenging, requiring helicopter transport as land routes are impassable. While the Nepalese authorities had previously restricted foreign helicopter operations due to flood concerns, the South Korean government and companies have secured six helicopters. They are working with Nepalese officials to obtain search coordinates and commence rescue operations.

Adding to the concern, foreign media reports suggest that over 100 people might be trapped in a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower plant site. There is a possibility that some of the missing South Koreans could be among those trapped, further increasing the urgency of the rescue mission.

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I met with the families before departing and offered my condolences. The company will do its best.