No progress in search for missing Koreans in Nepal despite helicopter, drones: official
An undated handout photo of rescue workers taking part in an operation near the tunnel of the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project, following deadly flash floods and mudslides, in Rasuwa, Nepal, Aug. 30. Reuters-Yonhap
A South Korean government rapid response team has searched the flood-hit area in Nepal with a helicopter and drones, but made no meaningful progress in finding nine South Koreans missing in massive floods in the country, according to its official.
Earlier Monday, the team began a ground search for the missing, Seoul's foreign ministry said. It includes officials from the ministry, police and fire authorities, and was dispatched to Nepal last week to support rescue efforts.
"Some of the team members arrived by land and made their way to Dhunche within a day. Helicopter searches also proceeded," the official told reporters at a hotel in Kathmandu. Dhunche is a town in Nepal's Rasuwa district
"Unfortunately, we were not able to make any meaningful progress," he added.
South Korea's new Ambassador to Nepal Park Jae-kyung has officially taken office, pledging his full support for the search and rescue operations.
"Given the extraordinary circumstances, (I) will make the best effort and provide the utmost support for the search and rescue of our nationals," he said.
"My heart is very heavy as I assumed office at a grave juncture," he added, noting that he has been briefed on the search operations and met with families of those who have been out of contact in Nepal following the floods.
Doosan Enerbility Co. has said that one of its helicopters joined the search effort for nine South Koreans missing in massive floods in Nepal after receiving clearance from local authorities for the first time.
The helicopter was one of two the company has secured to aid the search, out of a total six secured by South Korea. It departed at around 11 a.m. on Monday (local time) to head to the site where the nine -- six Doosan employees and three Korea South-East Power Co. employees -- had been working at a hydroelectric power plant construction site in the Rasuwa district when massive floods and landslides struck the region last Wednesday.
While the helicopter flew over the site, search personnel onboard looked for signs of the missing and filmed video for future analysis, the company said.
The last time a South Korean helicopter was cleared to operate was on Saturday, when a government-leased helicopter took off twice in one day.
The ground search began after the team failed to secure helicopter clearance due to bad weather and a decision by Nepalese authorities to bar foreign helicopters from operating.
"As we did not receive helicopter clearance Sunday, some team members left by road and moved as close as possible to the accident site," a ministry official said. "After taking the overall situation at the site into consideration, we determined that a ground search would be possible."
The team also plans to conduct a drone search in the area, subject to approval from local authorities, he added.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke by phone with his Nepalese counterpart, Shisir Khanal, and asked for close cooperation for the swift rescue of the nine missing, according to Cho's office.
He especially sought the Nepalese military's help in allowing searches in the area where the missing are presumed to have lost communication.
Thanking the Nepalese government for safely rescuing 10 other South Koreans who were initially trapped after the floods, Cho also said the South Korean government is looking into ways to assist Nepal where help is needed.
Khanal thanked Cho for South Korea's consolation and spirit of solidarity, and the two sides agreed to maintain close communication regarding rescue and recovery efforts.
The ministers had previously spoken by phone last Thursday.
On Sunday, officials contacted the chief of the Nepal Police and representatives of the Nepal Army.
The response team has been interviewing Nepali survivors to determine the movements of the missing South Koreans, the ministry said.
The floods have killed more than 800 people and left around 3,000 others missing, according to foreign media reports.