Nine South Koreans are missing following severe flooding in Nepal, and the government’s rapid response team is facing delays in reaching the site, raising concerns for the search efforts. Families of the missing individuals are urging the government to deploy helicopters quickly, stating that "today is the golden time" as 48 hours have passed since the incident.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the joint rapid response team that arrived in Kathmandu the previous night has been preparing to use helicopters to access the site but has yet to receive permission from Nepalese military authorities.
The Nepalese government is restricting private helicopter operations due to concerns about a potential second wave of flooding. A government official cited by Yonhap News reported that the Nepalese authorities had not granted helicopter permits in the morning but had temporarily allowed them in the afternoon the day before, and the team is currently requesting flight permissions.
The South Korean government, along with Doosan Enerbility and Korea Southeast Power, has chartered a total of six helicopters for search and rescue operations. Currently, five members from the National Fire Agency and one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are waiting at Kathmandu airport to board the chartered helicopters.
Once the rapid response team arrives at the site, they will assess the search conditions and the status of the missing individuals. However, the risk of flooding and landslides in the border areas of Nepal has increased due to a dam collapse in Tibet, complicating access to the site.
Anxiety among the families of the missing individuals is growing. Family members of Doosan Enerbility employees spoke to reporters at the Doosan Tower in Bundang, Seongnam, stating, "Our only request is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the President to send helicopters as soon as possible." They emphasized, "It has been 48 hours in local time, and we see today as the golden time. Please, we need helicopters to be deployed immediately."
A total of 19 South Koreans were reported missing or temporarily isolated due to the flooding. Among them, nine, including six employees from Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea Southeast Power, remain uncontacted.
Of the remaining ten, nine were evacuated to relatively safe areas using Nepalese military helicopters the day before. They are currently staying at accommodations and plan to travel to Kathmandu by land.
One local manager from Doosan Enerbility is remaining behind with local staff to facilitate their exit. Two embassy staff members initially deployed to the isolated area have since left, while one consular officer has been sent to replace them and remains on-site.
The government is also considering sending an overseas emergency relief team to provide additional search and rescue support. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has communicated its intention to send a relief team to Nepal and is discussing specific deployment plans.
If the deployment is confirmed, military transport aircraft will be used to send relief personnel and equipment to the area. The Ministry of National Defense has decided to support the deployment with the Air Force's KC-330 'Cygnus' multi-role aerial refueling aircraft, and the specific schedule and method of deployment are being coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, "If the overseas emergency relief team is dispatched, we can request military transport aircraft support according to relevant laws," adding that they are in communication with the Ministry of National Defense.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall in Nepal since August 26 has caused flooding and landslides, resulting in casualties. The collapse of a natural dam in Tibet has raised concerns about further flooding, increasing uncertainty for search and rescue operations in Nepal.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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