2 days ago
South Korea Cancels Nepal Helicopter Search for Missing Nationals
Nine South Korean workers are missing after severe floods in Nepal.
They had been working at a hydroelectric power plant construction site.
South Korea and Doosan Enerbility wanted to send two helicopters to help search for them.
Nepalese authorities did not approve the helicopter flights because the area was considered dangerous.
A helicopter already flew near the flood zone, but it could not land.
The search was instead done by looking from the air and studying video footage.
South Korea has also offered to send a disaster relief team.
Nepal says its own military and police are leading the search for now.
South Korea and Doosan Enerbility cancelled plans to send two helicopters to search for nine missing nationals in Nepal.
Nepalese authorities did not grant flight authorization, citing safety concerns and local conditions.
The missing workers include six Doosan Enerbility employees and three Korea South-East Power employees.
They were working at a hydroelectric power plant construction site in Rasuwa district when floods struck Wednesday.
South Korea remains prepared to deploy a Korea Disaster Relief Team if Nepal accepts its proposal.
- Who
- Nine South Korean nationals, including six Doosan Enerbility employees and three Korea South-East Power employees, are missing; South Korean officials and Doosan Enerbility sought to assist.
- What
- Plans to send two helicopters to search for the missing workers were cancelled after flight authorization was not granted.
- Where
- The workers disappeared near a hydroelectric power plant construction site in Nepal's Rasuwa district, in the country's north-central Himalayan border area.
- When
- The floods struck Wednesday; the helicopter plans were cancelled Sunday, after an initial flight attempt on Saturday.
- Why
- Nepalese authorities declined the helicopter requests over safety issues and are prioritizing military- and police-led search operations.
South Korea's Assistance Offer
Nepal's Current Approach
Search and rescue support
South Korea's Assistance Offer
South Korea and Doosan Enerbility sought to send two helicopters and offered to deploy a Korea Disaster Relief Team to help with search and rescue.
Nepal's Current Approach
Nepal did not authorize the helicopter flights and said it was prioritizing military- and police-led search and rescue because of the area's terrain and weather.
Foreign assistance
South Korea's Assistance Offer
South Korea said it was fully prepared to dispatch the Korea Disaster Relief Team once Nepal accepted its proposal.
Nepal's Current Approach
Nepal's foreign minister said the country needed specialized technical help to restore transportation and communication lines, but not foreign search-and-rescue assistance at that time.
Key facts
- Missing people
- Nine South Korean nationals
- Missing workers
- Six Doosan Enerbility employees and three Korea South-East Power employees
- Location
- Rasuwa district, Nepal
- Incident
- Devastating floods struck the area on Wednesday
- Helicopters
- Two planned helicopters were placed on standby after flight authorization was not granted
- Initial search
- A government-chartered helicopter flew twice from Kathmandu on Saturday but reportedly could not land
- Potential assistance
- South Korea offered to deploy a Korea Disaster Relief Team
Quotes
South Korean Foreign Ministry official
An official from South Korea’s Foreign Ministry discussing the proposed disaster relief deployment.
“We understand that Nepal is prioritising military and police-led search and rescue operations due to the region's unique terrain and weather conditions, and will request foreign assistance when the need arises.”
thehansindia.com
“We are fully preparing to dispatch a KDRT at any time once the Nepali side accepts our proposal.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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