Korean Government Helicopters Begin Search Operations in Nepal, Depart for Accident Site

Four National Fire Agency Members Join Joint Rapid Response Team Aboard Helicopter
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Meets Families of Missing Persons in Korea

A helicopter operated by the Korean government has begun search operations at the site of the major flood in Nepal.

On the 29th (local time), Nepalese soldiers and related personnel are restoring the road leading to the hydropower plant being constructed by Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility in Bidur, Nepal. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at around 11:45 a.m. local time on the 29th, a helicopter carrying four members of the government’s joint rapid response team from the National Fire Agency departed for the scene of the accident.

Access to the scene is only possible by helicopter since the roads are impassable; however, Nepalese authorities had restricted helicopter operations by foreigners due to concerns about potential secondary floods. Although the Korean response team, together with Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power, had secured six helicopters in Kathmandu, only one helicopter operated by Korea South-East Power was able to conduct search activities the previous day.

As local weather conditions have improved, it has been reported that, in addition to the government-chartered helicopter that took off today, one helicopter operated by Doosan Enerbility has also received flight approval.

Im Sangwoo, the government representative in charge of overseas citizen protection and consular affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is leading the rapid response team, reportedly met with officials from the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others the previous day to request cooperation on matters necessary for Korean search and rescue efforts, such as helicopter operations.

The government has dispatched additional members of the joint rapid response team to the area. The additional personnel, consisting of one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and eight from the National Fire Agency, departed Incheon Airport at 2:00 p.m. and are scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal, at around 5:00 p.m. The government had previously sent a rapid response team of 11 members, including Representative Im, to Nepal on the 27th.

Preparations have also been completed for deploying an overseas emergency relief team via military transport aircraft. The government has actively conveyed its willingness to support Nepal with the emergency relief team and is ready to deploy as soon as Nepal accepts the offer.

However, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepalese authorities have stated that, given the region’s specific circumstances, weather-related conditions, and the need for efficient command and control of rescue personnel, rescue operations are being conducted mainly by their own military and police, and any additional support will be requested separately if needed.

Meanwhile, on this day, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with the families of the missing people who are currently in Korea. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, families of four of the nine missing persons are currently in Nepal, while families of five are in Korea.

Another ten Koreans, who had previously been isolated, have relocated to a safe area. These individuals are reportedly associated with Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, which have been constructing a hydropower plant on site.

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