Seoul: Nine of ten South Koreans isolated due to massive flooding in Nepal have been moved to safety, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. The South Koreans, associated with plant builder Doosan Enerbility Co., had evacuated to a temporary shelter alongside approximately 200 foreign workers involved in a hydropower plant construction project in Nepal's Rasuwa district.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a Nepalese military helicopter transported nine of the South Koreans to a safer location earlier Thursday. The remaining individual, a Doosan site manager, chose to stay at the construction site to ensure the evacuation of all workers, including locals. The ministry confirmed that all ten South Koreans are in good health and are expected to travel to Kathmandu on Friday.
Meanwhile, nine other South Koreans, including six Doosan employees and three from Korea South-East Power Co., remain missing after a flash flood and mudslide struck the region on Wednesday. The missing individuals were located in different areas, and it is believed that many of the places where they were staying were swept away by the floods.
Earlier, an 11-member rapid response team, including officials from the foreign ministry, police, and fire authorities, departed for Nepal and is expected to arrive in Kathmandu later in the evening. The team will collaborate with the South Korean embassy in Nepal and local authorities to intensify search and rescue operations for the missing nationals, as stated by ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon.
With approximately 20,000 South Koreans visiting Nepal annually for tourism, the ministry is continuing efforts to ascertain if any other nationals have been affected by the disaster. In response, Doosan and the power generation company have activated their emergency response teams and dispatched field response teams to the affected site.
The search and rescue operations face challenges due to the severe damage and difficult terrain. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun indicated that the government might deploy a larger-scale rescue team if necessary. In a phone conversation with Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, Cho expressed condolences and requested active support from the Nepalese government in searching for the missing South Koreans.
President Lee Jae Myung, during an emergency meeting, instructed officials to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people by utilizing all available resources. Following the meeting, the government decided to deploy an Air Force KC-330 transport aircraft to aid the search and rescue operation in Nepal, as confirmed by a defense ministry official to Yonhap News Agency.
The two Korean companies are engaged in constructing the Upper Trishuli-1 (UT-1) hydropower plant on the Trishuli River, approximately 70 kilometers northwest of Kathmandu. The 216-megawatt facility, which began construction in January 2022, was slated for completion by year-end. However, flood damage is anticipated to cause significant project delays.
The disaster has resulted in a rising death toll and missing persons, reaching at least 165 and 826, respectively, many of whom are foreigners. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a glacial collapse and debris flow precipitated the severe impacts downstream.