(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ji-heon and Min Seon-hee = The government's joint rapid response team began full-scale search cooperation between the two countries, including conducting a joint search with the Nepalese military on the 1st to find nine Koreans who went missing due to the massive floods in Nepal.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the rapid response team conducted a joint search with the Nepal Army at around 8:30 am (Nepal local time) on this day.
The rapid response team conducted an aerial search of the accident area using a Nepalese military helicopter, then landed near the Weir Dam and conducted a foot search with the Nepalese military.
However, even during the search on this day, no unusual information regarding the whereabouts of the nine missing Koreans was identified. The rapid response team plans to continue search efforts in cooperation with Nepalese authorities.
The government had discussed a joint search with the Nepalese military since the previous day, and the land search team received help from the Nepalese military in some areas while moving near the accident site the previous day.
National Police Agency officials focused on determining the final location of the missing Koreans by interviewing additional Nepalese authorities and Nepalese survivors.
Nine members of the land search team within the rapid response team entered Ramche and Dunche the day before, launched a drone and searched the area around the accident site, and plan to continue the drone search on this day as well.
Ramche is about 2 km away from the camp where the missing people stayed, and Dunche is about 2 km away from the Weir Dam where one missing person worked.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the land search team "can be said to have almost reached the area near the accident site or the area where Korean citizens who lost contact are presumed to have evacuated," adding, "Today's activities must take into account the local situation."
A rented helicopter from the rapid response team also conducted an aerial search of the accident site, including the Weir Dam, Powerhouse, and Camp, the day before, and landed in the Powerhouse area to conduct a visual search, but there was no news of any missing persons.
In addition, the Republic of Korea Overseas Emergency Relief Team (KDRT) to support search and rescue activities for missing persons will depart for Nepal at midnight on this day.
The relief team is comprised of 44 people, including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Fire Agency, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and will focus on areas where Koreans are missing in consultation with Nepalese authorities and the rapid response team after arriving at the site.
Meanwhile, the new Ambassador to Nepal, Park Jae-kyung, took office on the 31st of last month.
When asked whether there were restrictions on Ambassador Park's diplomatic activities because it was before the enactment of his credentials, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official responded, "Because it is an emergency situation, we are closely cooperating between the two countries, including the rapid response team, for rescue and search activities. I believe the Nepalese side will also understand and cooperate."
