5 Koreans flee from Iran amid Middle East conflict

Korean nationals appear from an exit gate at Incheon International Airport, Monday, upon their return home aboard a chartered flight from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Yonhap

Five Korean nationals have fled Iran amid the widening conflict in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said Thursday, as Seoul continues to evacuate its citizens from Tehran and other regions under attack.

Four Koreans crossed into Turkmenistan via a land route a day after leaving Tehran, the ministry said. Another Korean national is still at the border area with two family members and they are expected to arrive in Turkmenistan on Saturday.

More than 6,000 Koreans have been evacuated from 14 countries in the Middle East since March 3, with the number of those remaining in the region standing at around 14,700, according to ministry data provided Monday.

Roughly half of some 4,100 short-term travelers have left the region in the same period.

The resumption of limited flights by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar has paved the way for broader evacuation efforts, following diplomatic talks with Seoul.

A Qatari flight from Doha carrying 108 people, including 66 Koreans, landed in Incheon, Thursday.