Rapid Response Team Dispatched for Nine Missing Koreans in Nepal Still on Standby as Helicopters Remain Grounded

Foreign Ministry: "Attempting to Reach Accident Site by Helicopter"
No Permission to Take Off Due to Fears of a Second Flood

The government’s joint rapid response team, which was urgently dispatched to search for the nine Koreans who lost contact following the massive flooding in the Rasuwa region of northern Nepal, is currently standing by to enter the accident site. However, it has been reported that entry to the site has not been possible because Nepalese authorities have not granted permission for private helicopters to operate, due to concerns about a potential second major flood.

Near the construction site of a hydroelectric power plant in Nepal, where Koreans affiliated with Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility have gone missing due to floods and landslides, on the 27th, a joint rapid response team composed of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Fire Agency, and the National Police Agency is departing from Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Yonhap News

According to an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 28th, the 11-member joint rapid response team, which arrived in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, at 9:45 p.m. (local time) the previous day, plans to participate in search and rescue operations at the site, as well as meet with senior officials of the Nepalese government to request cooperation.

Among the team, six members—including staff from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and firefighters—boarded hired helicopters from early morning. However, it has been reported that they have not been able to proceed to the accident site and are waiting, as the Nepalese authorities have not authorized flights, citing safety concerns related to the possibility of a second major flood. Currently, a total of six helicopters have been secured on location for the search operations.

The Foreign Ministry official stated, “Our embassy and the rapid response team are asking Nepalese authorities to issue the necessary authorization as quickly as possible.” On the previous day, Nepalese authorities had also withheld permission for private helicopters in the morning, only granting permission temporarily in the afternoon.

If helicopter operations are authorized, the rapid response team plans to travel near the accident site, assess the local situation, and, depending on conditions, conduct search and rescue activities. The official explained, “Although we did not bring heavy equipment, some gear was carried. In coordination with the Nepalese authorities, our mission fully encompasses both search and rescue operations.”

As of now, there has been no change in the status of the nine missing Koreans. Six of them are affiliated with Doosan Enerbility and three with Korea South-East Power. The Nepalese military and police continue their search and rescue operations. In addition, upon arriving in Nepal, the rapid response team has been meeting with the families of the missing who are present locally and maintaining communication with them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is staying in touch with the families who remain in Korea.

Separately, nine out of ten Doosan Enerbility employees who had been stranded at another location have been moved to a safe area by Nepalese military helicopters. They are now staying in a region outside Kathmandu and plan to travel overland to Kathmandu using vehicles. The remaining employee, a site manager from Doosan Enerbility, is staying behind with local staff. A consul from the Embassy of Korea in Nepal is also on-site.

Furthermore, to strengthen its local response, the Korean government plans to send Park Jae Kyung, the newly appointed ambassador to Nepal and former ambassador to Zimbabwe, to the site as quickly as possible. Ambassador Park is expected to travel to Nepal over the weekend.

The government is also in discussions with the Nepalese authorities regarding the possible dispatch of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT). While the Korean government has expressed its intention to dispatch the relief team, specific details regarding the decision, number of personnel, and size of the deployment have not yet been determined.

Regarding the possible deployment of the Air Force’s multipurpose aerial refueling transport aircraft 'Cygnus' (KC-330), an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “If the Korea Disaster Relief Team is dispatched, the deployment of a military transport aircraft can be requested in accordance with relevant laws,” adding, “We are communicating with the Ministry of National Defense.” Previously, the Ministry of National Defense had indicated its position that the Cygnus could be deployed.

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