South Korea seeks Nepal's full support in search for missing nationals after floods

South Korea has asked Nepal to provide full support for the search for nine Koreans who remain missing after devastating floods, as the two countries discussed rescue operations, humanitarian assistance and longer-term cooperation on disaster recovery.

On Sunday, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met Nepalese Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and voiced serious concern that the whereabouts of the nine South Koreans remain unknown. He asked the Nepalese government to give special attention and assistance so that a thorough search can be conducted.

The two ministers reviewed ongoing search and rescue operations, the Nepalese government’s response to the disaster and assistance being provided by South Korea.

South Korea dispatched the Korea Disaster Relief Team to Nepal on Wednesday with search, rescue and forensic equipment requested by the Nepalese side. The team is conducting operations in cooperation with local authorities.

In the meeting, Cho also shared plans to provide 130 million won ($94,000) worth of relief supplies, along with $1 million in humanitarian assistance through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The two sides agreed to maintain close communication to ensure smooth search and rescue operations and to help Nepalese residents return to their daily lives as soon as possible. They also agreed to strengthen coordination on climate change at international forums.

Cho arrived in Nepal on Saturday night and said he planned to discuss both the immediate response to the floods and longer-term cooperation, including reconstruction.

He had said he would consult Nepalese authorities on ways to allow search teams to operate as extensively as conditions permit and make every effort to accelerate operations in hopes of finding the missing Koreans alive.

Cho had previously spoken with Khanal by phone on Aug. 27 and Aug. 31, requesting that Nepalese authorities concentrate search efforts in the area where the Koreans disappeared.

During his three-day visit through Monday, Cho is also expected to meet family members of the missing Koreans, encourage KDRT personnel and meet representatives of South Korean companies operating in Nepal.

More than 5,000 people remain missing following the floods, including the nine South Koreans who had been working on the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project in Rasuwa district of Bagmati province in north-central Nepal.

The missing group consists of six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three employees of Korea South-East Power Co.

A joint rescue team comprising Nepalese military personnel and the KDRT rescued a Chinese man from a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower construction site on Saturday. The rescue drew attention because it took place at the same project where the nine Koreans had been working, raising hopes that continued operations could produce further findings.