A government joint rapid response team, which has been conducting search and rescue operations for nine Koreans who have been out of contact due to major flooding in Nepal, began helicopter searches on the 29th.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the afternoon of the same day, “A helicopter carrying four members of the National Fire Agency from the rapid response team took off at 11:45 a.m. local time in Nepal and departed for the site.” It added, “Another helicopter carrying four members of the rapid response team took off at 12:38 p.m. and also departed for the site.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that one helicopter conducted two searches with a time difference, and the team members on board changed for the second search.
The government focused search and rescue operations on the estimated evacuation area of the Koreans who lost contact. Since the individuals went out of contact in the Rasuwa area, approximately 70 km from the capital, Kathmandu, the rapid response team is expected to conduct intensive searches until sunset after arriving at the site.
Additionally, the government dispatched an additional joint rapid response team consisting of one member from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and eight from the National Fire Agency to support search and rescue efforts. They departed from Incheon International Airport at 2 p.m. on the same day and are scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, in the evening. They plan to join the existing team in search and rescue operations.
Earlier, the government dispatched an 11-member rapid response team led by Im Sang-woo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ government representative in charge of overseas citizens’ protection and consular affairs, to Nepal on the 27th as the first team.
The nine Koreans who have been out of contact since the 26th, when the major flood occurred, are three employees of Korea South-East Power and six from Doosan Enerbility, who were constructing a hydropower plant locally.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with the families of the missing individuals in the morning of the same day and was reported to have explained the local situation in Nepal and listened to their opinions.
The day before, Im Sang-woo, head of the government joint rapid response team, stated, “The Nepalese military conducted search operations for the nine Koreans who lost contact, but unfortunately, the search must continue.”
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