The government’s rapid response team is moving to the Lamche area, located 1 to 2 kilometers from the site of a major flood in Nepal, to search for nine missing South Koreans.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 31, the joint government rapid response team has formed a ground search team consisting of nine personnel from the National Fire Agency.
A ministry official stated, "The ground search team is attempting to reach the Lamche area, which is about 1 to 2 kilometers from the accident site, and plans to set up camp there."
The rapid response team gathered at the South Korean Embassy in Kathmandu this morning before departing for Lamche.
If they arrive before 3 p.m. local time, they plan to attempt drone searches, contingent on local authorities' approval. The local authorities have restricted drone operations to the hours between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The rapid response team had previously surveyed the Batar area, located about 70 kilometers from the accident site, on the previous day, reviewing necessary supplies and equipment for ground movement.
The team is also pursuing helicopter searches, focusing on areas such as the Weir Dam and Dunchi, which families of the missing individuals have identified as needing search efforts.
However, the Nepalese military has not granted flight permissions due to safety concerns and air traffic congestion, leaving the deployment of helicopters uncertain.
Earlier, the rapid response team conducted two helicopter flights on August 29 to search the accident site, nearby camps, mountainous regions, and powerhouses, but did not locate any missing persons. On August 30, they attempted to continue helicopter searches but were unable to take off due to a lack of approval from the Nepalese military.
The rapid response team is also verifying the presumed evacuation routes of the missing individuals based on interviews with Nepalese survivors.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 31, the joint government rapid response team has formed a ground search team consisting of nine personnel from the National Fire Agency.
A ministry official stated, "The ground search team is attempting to reach the Lamche area, which is about 1 to 2 kilometers from the accident site, and plans to set up camp there."
The rapid response team gathered at the South Korean Embassy in Kathmandu this morning before departing for Lamche.
If they arrive before 3 p.m. local time, they plan to attempt drone searches, contingent on local authorities' approval. The local authorities have restricted drone operations to the hours between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The rapid response team had previously surveyed the Batar area, located about 70 kilometers from the accident site, on the previous day, reviewing necessary supplies and equipment for ground movement.
The team is also pursuing helicopter searches, focusing on areas such as the Weir Dam and Dunchi, which families of the missing individuals have identified as needing search efforts.
However, the Nepalese military has not granted flight permissions due to safety concerns and air traffic congestion, leaving the deployment of helicopters uncertain.
Earlier, the rapid response team conducted two helicopter flights on August 29 to search the accident site, nearby camps, mountainous regions, and powerhouses, but did not locate any missing persons. On August 30, they attempted to continue helicopter searches but were unable to take off due to a lack of approval from the Nepalese military.
The rapid response team is also verifying the presumed evacuation routes of the missing individuals based on interviews with Nepalese survivors.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.