Building Where 9 Missing Koreans Stayed in Nepal Submerged and Swept Away... Government to Pursue Search and Rescue Efforts

The building where nine Korean workers were unaccounted for after massive flooding in northern Nepal has been found to be completely submerged and swept away. The government announced that it has not lost hope for a successful rescue and will continue the search efforts.

On August 27, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters at the Government Complex Seoul that the site where the Korean workers were believed to be located had “been swept away,” adding that “the nearby power plant was also reportedly destroyed.” The building in question was used as both an office and accommodation for Korean staff at the hydropower plant construction site. However, authorities have not been able to confirm whether all nine people were together in the building or if some were outside at the time of the flood, so the exact circumstances remain unclear. The official said, “We are thinking positively and will continue to pursue search and rescue operations.”

The Nepalese military and police authorities are conducting search operations locally. However, because the area is a rugged mountainous region, searches are only possible during daylight hours. Most infrastructure, including roads and bridges, in the flooded area has been washed away, and communications are reportedly unstable.

Ten Koreans who were stranded with around 200 local employees were mainly staying in a facility known as the “powerhouse,” which served as a workplace and accommodation for local staff. The powerhouse was located at some distance from the river where the major flood occurred and was situated at a higher elevation, allowing the group to avoid harm. However, as all nearby roads were destroyed, evacuation by land was impossible. Fortunately, since it was also used by local employees for meals and lodging, basic necessities such as water and food were still available. The accommodation effectively functioned as a temporary shelter.

The employees, who had been isolated for at least 24 hours and up to around 30 hours since the morning of the previous day (local time), were transported to safety in four successive rounds by Nepalese military and civilian helicopters. Their health conditions were reported to be externally stable. At the site where the workers had been stranded, a consular officer and administrative staff from the embassy, as well as the onsite manager from Doosan Enerbility, remained behind to assist with the evacuation of local employees. The Foreign Ministry official explained, “There were more than 200 other employees of various nationalities, including Nepalese locals, and it was difficult for us (the Koreans) to be given any preferential evacuation treatment.”

Near the construction site of a hydropower plant in Nepal, Koreans belonging to Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility went missing due to flooding and landslides. On August 27, Lim Sangwoo, head of the Joint Rapid Response Team, answered reporters' questions at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 before departing for Nepal. 2026.8.27 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap

The government’s Joint Rapid Response Team, consisting of a total of 11 members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Police Agency, National Fire Agency, and others, departed for Nepal with a connecting flight through Incheon Airport at around 1:40 p.m. today. However, they were not equipped with all the necessary gear to immediately commence search and rescue activities. Before any such activities can begin, coordination with local authorities in Nepal is required. The Rapid Response Team is scheduled to arrive after 9 p.m. local time and plans to begin consultations with the Nepalese government regarding rescue operations starting tomorrow morning.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.