South Korea Launches Full-Scale Rescue Operation for 9 Missing Citizens in Nepal Floods

South Korea has initiated a full-scale rescue operation for nine of its citizens who went missing after a major flood hit Nepal on July 26. Two helicopters carrying members of the government's joint rapid response team departed for the flood-affected areas on July 29.

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The joint rapid response team, carrying two helicopters, departed for the flood-affected areas on the afternoon of July 29 (local time).

The team's mission includes assessing the on-site situation, conducting search operations, and identifying further resource needs. They will proceed with the rescue efforts based on coordinates provided by Nepalese authorities. The nine missing individuals are employees of Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power, working at a hydroelectric power plant.

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The rapid response team will assess the on-site situation, conduct search operations, and identify the demand for additional personnel and equipment needed for rescue.

Previous rescue attempts on July 28 by one Nepalese military helicopter and one chartered civilian helicopter proved insufficient. Nepalese authorities have been limiting the operation of foreign rescue helicopters due to concerns about weather conditions and the potential for a secondary flood. The South Korean embassy in Nepal has been in contact with Nepalese officials, requesting cooperation for helicopter operations and providing location information for the affected areas.

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This matter is under investigation.

Reports have emerged of over 100 people potentially trapped in a tunnel near the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower plant, built by Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, raising the possibility that the missing South Koreans could be among them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it is investigating this matter. The embassy had reportedly sent staff to the Bharatpur region downstream of the Trishuli River to assess search possibilities, but the ministry clarified that the government is focusing its search efforts on areas where the missing citizens are presumed to have evacuated.

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This is different from the facts. The government is pursuing search and rescue operations focused on the estimated evacuation areas of our missing citizens.