South Korea Asks Nepal to Intensify Search for Nine Missing Nationals

South Korea is asking Nepal to concentrate its military-backed search on areas where nine South Koreans lost contact after severe flooding.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun made the request during his second call since the incident with Nepalese Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal. Cho asked for Nepal’s military to support intensive searches around locations where the missing people are believed to have been cut off. He also called for close coordination between Nepalese authorities and a South Korean government emergency response team deployed locally.

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We ask for Nepal’s military support so that intensive searches can take place around the locations where contact was lost.

Cho thanked Nepal for safely evacuating 10 South Koreans who had been isolated in the affected area. Khanal briefed him on the flood damage and ongoing field searches, including efforts involving tunnels. Nepal has asked South Korea for personnel and equipment to assist the operation, and Seoul is considering what support it can provide.

The nine missing people include six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three employees of Korea South-East Power. They lost contact after flooding struck Nepal’s Rasuwa area on Aug. 26. Ten Doosan Enerbility employees who had been stranded were transported to safety between Aug. 27 and 28, but the search for the remaining nine continues.

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We hope the search can proceed smoothly through close cooperation between the joint government rapid response team deployed locally and the Nepalese side.