KATHMANDU: South Korea has dispatched a specialized search and rescue team to Nepal to locate nine South Korean nationals and others missing in the devastating floods and landslides. The 44-member Korean Disaster Relief Team arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The team comprises officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and fire rescue personnel. Working in coordination with Nepali authorities, the team will conduct search and rescue operations for approximately 10 days and has already arrived in Rasuwa.
According to The Korea Times, the relief team brought five search dogs along with high-capacity drones, equipment capable of detecting audio and visual signals of individuals buried under debris, and thermal imaging devices.
The nine South Korean nationals went missing from the construction site of the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydroelectric Project during the flash floods in Rasuwa on August 26. Among the missing are six employees from Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea South-East Power Company.
Nepali security personnel and the Korean rescue team are carrying out search efforts in the Dhunche area of Rasuwa using helicopters, drones, rescue dogs, and advanced detection gear. However, the operations face severe challenges due to difficult terrain, expansive areas, and dense layers of mud and debris.
South Korean officials stated they are also discussing the possibility of tracking the missing individuals’ mobile phone locations with Nepali authorities. Meanwhile, the involved companies have intensified their own aerial search efforts. According to the latest updates, over 1,100 bodies have been recovered following the Bhote Koshi floods, while more than 4,000 people remain missing.
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