Search for 9 South Koreans Stalls Again as Nepal Blocks Chartered Korean Helicopter Flights

[Financial News] The South Korean government's helicopter search for nine South Koreans who lost contact after Nepal's massive floods was canceled after local authorities refused to allow the flights. The government had planned to focus on the weir dam where some of the missing people had worked, but Nepalese authorities denied permission over safety concerns, prompting officials to consider using drones instead.
Yonhap News Agency reported on the 30th, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that two helicopters chartered separately by the joint government rapid response team and Doosan Enerbility were scheduled to join the search that day.
The government had planned to inspect the weir dam area first if the helicopters took off, as some of the missing South Koreans had worked there. A search was also attempted the previous day, but crews could not reach the area because of weather conditions and the rugged terrain.
On this day, the Nepal Army did not approve the flights at all, citing concerns over safety and air traffic congestion.
The day before, one helicopter chartered by the South Korean government took off twice, conducting visual searches over the accident site and filming video and photos. Footage released by the government showed powerful currents rushing through the area where the South Koreans are believed to have gone missing, with the surrounding ground covered in mud and debris.
As helicopter searches have become difficult, the government is also reviewing the use of drones. The second joint government rapid response team, dispatched on the 29th, brought drones to the site. However, drone operations also require approval from Nepalese authorities.
With Nepal restricting the operation of foreign private helicopters, independent search efforts by the South Korean government and companies continue to face difficulties.
Instead, the Nepal Army has launched its own search for the missing South Koreans. The previous day, while the South Korean rapid response team's helicopter was flying over the disaster area, a Nepal Army helicopter landed at the site and conducted a ground search.
A Foreign Ministry official told Yonhap News Agency that, after checking with Nepalese authorities, they were told the helicopter had been launched with the missing South Koreans in mind. However, no survivors were found.
The government is continuing to request searches from Nepalese authorities, providing the expected locations, coordinates, and maps of the missing South Koreans.
Meanwhile, the government believes it is unlikely that the missing South Koreans are inside the tunnel at the hydroelectric power plant where Nepalese authorities are carrying out rescue operations. More than 100 people are believed to be trapped in the tunnel.
A Foreign Ministry official explained that the tunnel was not a workplace for the South Koreans and was also quite far from their work site, making it highly unlikely that they fled there during the flood.
Park Jae-kyung, who was appointed as South Korea's new ambassador to Nepal on the 28th, is expected to arrive in the country on the 31st.

[email protected] Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter