Korea Sends Rapid Response Team to Nepal After Deadly Floods

The South Korean government said on the 27th that it has found no additional harm to its nationals in Nepal beyond the nine missing in flooding in the Rasuwa region. Ten other Koreans stranded in the area are safe but are awaiting helicopter rescue by Nepalese authorities because evacuation by land is not feasible. The government has dispatched a rapid response team to Nepal and is considering sending dozens more personnel for full-scale rescue operations.

"As of now, no reports have been received of harm to other Korean nationals beyond the nine who are out of contact and the 10 awaiting rescue," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "We will continue to check whether any additional Korean nationals have been affected."

Flooding struck the Himalayan mountain region of north-central Nepal the previous day, killing more than 160 people and leaving more than 820 missing, according to foreign news reports. Nine Koreans lost contact and 10 others were stranded. They work for Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, which were building a hydroelectric plant in the area.

The 10 stranded nationals moved to a relatively safe location with help from a consular officer rushed to the site by the Korean Embassy in Nepal, and their health is reported to be relatively good. "They will have to be evacuated by helicopter rescue conducted by Nepalese authorities," a foreign ministry official said.

To rescue the nine missing, the government dispatched 11 officials to Nepal on the same day, led by Lim Sang-woo, the government representative for overseas Koreans protection and consular affairs. The team includes four officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two from the Korean National Police Agency and five from the National Fire Agency. They departed through Incheon International Airport and arrived in Kathmandu.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told reporters at the Government Complex Seoul that "dozens of people will have to go if necessary," describing the rapid response team as an advance party. The minister said the matter would be discussed with Nepal's foreign minister. "The rapid response team will be briefed by our embassy on conditions on the ground and will set specific rescue and search directions," a foreign ministry official said.

Separately, Chung Yeon-in, vice chairman and chief executive of Doosan Enerbility, met reporters at Incheon International Airport while departing for Nepal and said, "We are working closely with the relevant authorities," adding, "We will do our utmost to rescue the employees we cannot reach." After the employees went missing, Doosan Enerbility set up a 40-member emergency response headquarters in South Korea to manage the aftermath. Doosan Group said it will provide $5 million in emergency aid to support rescue and recovery efforts in Nepal's flood-hit Rasuwa region.