The international emergency rescue team (KDRT) dispatched to Nepal attempted aerial searches on September 3 for nine missing South Koreans in the Nuwakot region, but had to turn back due to poor weather conditions.
According to Yonhap News, a KDRT official stated via video link from the base camp in Batar, Nuwakot, that they received two helicopters from the Nepalese Army after a meeting with the local military commander.
The commander asked what the South Korean team needed, to which the KDRT explained the areas of interest for the families of the missing individuals.
However, the KDRT had to abort the search as rain and strong winds made conditions unsafe for flying. The official noted, "We were unable to secure visibility of even one meter while trying to enter the search area, so we returned. We plan to conduct another search with the two helicopters in the same area tomorrow and will discuss long-term search plans with Nepalese authorities afterward."
The local military commander expressed frustration, stating, "The Nepalese Army has conducted five to six precise searches. Why can't South Korea trust us? I will not allow reckless actions in dangerous operational areas."
Meanwhile, the recent flooding has resulted in 1,273 fatalities and 4,757 missing persons across Nepal and the neighboring Tibet Autonomous Region of China as of today.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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