A response team from Doosan Energy and Korea South-East Power has begun search and rescue operations for nine missing South Koreans in Nepal due to severe flooding. The team is collaborating with the South Korean government in these efforts.
However, the search has faced challenges due to poor weather conditions and difficulties in obtaining helicopter flight permissions from Nepalese military authorities.
According to Yonhap News Agency, government officials, and local business response teams, helicopter search operations commenced on August 28, led by Korea South-East Power and Doosan Energy.
The nine missing individuals include six employees from Doosan Energy and three from Korea South-East Power, all of whom were working on a hydropower plant project in the area.
One helicopter chartered by Korea South-East Power received approval from Nepalese military authorities on August 28 and conducted its first search in the flood-affected region.
Initially, Nepalese authorities hesitated to permit helicopter flights due to concerns about a secondary flood but granted permission just before sunset, allowing the helicopter to conduct its first search. However, there have been no reports of finding the missing South Koreans.
While Korea South-East Power and Doosan Energy aimed to intensify helicopter search efforts, they were unable to launch any flights.
On the previous day, Doosan Energy had not received flight approval, but they were granted permission on the morning of August 29. They planned to deploy drones to search high-altitude areas where the missing individuals might have sought refuge. Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, prevented the helicopter from taking off that morning.
As weather conditions improved, there was hope for helicopter flights in the afternoon. However, Nepalese authorities announced a ban on foreign helicopter operations, further complicating the situation.
The reasons behind the Nepalese authorities' decision to restrict foreign helicopter flights remain unclear.
On August 30, Doosan Energy and Korea South-East Power plan to continue their efforts to secure helicopter operations in close cooperation with government authorities. Additionally, two helicopters operated by the South Korean government have begun search operations in the flood-affected areas, carrying personnel from the government’s joint rapid response team, including firefighters, police, and foreign ministry officials.
Meanwhile, ten South Koreans affiliated with Doosan Energy, who had been isolated in the upper area of the accident site since August 26 due to damaged roads from the flooding, are currently reported to be in Kathmandu.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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