5 days ago
South Korea Families Demand Helicopters for Nepal Flood Rescue
A powerful flood hit a hydropower construction site in Nepal.
Nine South Korean workers who were there are still missing.
Six worked for Doosan Enerbility and three worked for Korea South-East Power.
Rescue teams have arrived in Kathmandu, but they cannot yet fly to the site.
Roads and bridges were washed away, making helicopters especially important.
The workers’ families are asking officials to start helicopter searches quickly.
Nepalese authorities are worried that more flooding could happen and have restricted some helicopter flights.
Ten other Doosan workers who were stranded in another area have been taken to safety.
Nine South Korean workers remain missing after a flood and mudslide struck a hydropower construction site in Nepal on Wednesday.
The missing workers include six Doosan Enerbility employees and three Korea South-East Power employees.
South Korean government and corporate teams have secured six helicopters but are still awaiting Nepalese flight approval.
Relatives said more than 48 hours had passed and urged authorities to begin helicopter searches immediately.
Ten other Doosan workers isolated elsewhere were moved to safety, while Nepal warned of further flooding from a debris-blocked river.
- Who
- Nine South Korean workers from Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power are missing; South Korean and Nepalese rescue authorities are coordinating the response.
- What
- A flash flood and mudslide struck a hydropower construction site, leaving nine workers unaccounted for and disrupting access to the area.
- Where
- At a hydropower construction site in Rasuwa district, north-central Nepal, near the Nepal-Tibet border.
- When
- The disaster occurred Wednesday morning; appeals for helicopter access were made Friday, more than 48 hours later.
- Why
- Roads and bridges were washed away, while Nepalese authorities restricted private helicopter operations because of concerns about additional flooding.
South Korean Families and Officials
Nepalese Authorities
Foreign rescue access
South Korean Families and Officials
Families and South Korean officials want helicopters and potentially an overseas emergency relief team sent quickly to search for the nine missing workers.
Nepalese Authorities
Nepal said it was managing search-and-rescue operations and did not need foreign assistance; Nepalese authorities had not cleared the helicopters for the affected area.
Helicopter operations
South Korean Families and Officials
Families said helicopter access was essential because roads and bridges had been washed away and critical time was being lost.
Nepalese Authorities
Nepalese authorities restricted private helicopter operations because of concerns about further flooding and warned rescuers to avoid high-risk river areas.
Information sharing
South Korean Families and Officials
Families said they had received insufficient information and asked for search footage and other updates to be shared promptly.
Nepalese Authorities
The available reports describe authorities coordinating rescue efforts, but do not provide a detailed response to the families’ information requests.
Key facts
- Missing workers
- Nine South Koreans: six Doosan Enerbility employees and three Korea South-East Power employees.
- Disaster
- A flood and mudslide struck the construction site Wednesday morning; Reuters described it as a glacier-triggered flash flood.
- Rescue access
- Six helicopters have been secured, but they were awaiting approval from Nepalese authorities.
- Family appeal
- Relatives urged authorities to get helicopters into the air after more than 48 hours.
- Other workers rescued
- Ten isolated Doosan workers were moved to safety; nine were airlifted by Nepalese military helicopter and one was moved Friday.
- Additional response
- South Korea is considering an overseas emergency relief team and plans to support the operation with a KC-330 Cygnus aircraft.
- Further danger
- Nepalese disaster authorities warned that a debris-blocked river and rising upstream lake could cause additional flooding.
Quotes
Relatives of Doosan Enerbility employees
Family members of South Korean workers missing in the Nepal flood
“Helicopter travel is essential to reach the area, as roads and bridges have been washed away. But Nepalese authorities have restricted private helicopter operations over concerns about the possibility of additional flooding.”
thehansindia.com
“Our only request is to get the helicopters flying as soon as possible. We believe today is the golden time. Please send the helicopters.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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