정부, ‘한국인 9명 실종’ 대홍수 네팔에 신속대응팀 파견

The South Korean government has dispatched an 11-person joint rapid response team to Nepal, where nine Korean nationals and hundreds of others have gone missing amid a devastating flood and landslide. The team, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and headed by a government representative for overseas Korean citizens, consists of four foreign ministry officials, five firefighters, and two police officers.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, the team will assist in searching for and rescuing Korean nationals. The team departed from Incheon International Airport earlier today, traveling via Hong Kong to reach Nepal. Last night, a landslide and flood hit the northern Himalayan region of Nepal, leaving at least 160 people dead and hundreds missing.

Among those who have gone missing are nine Korean nationals working on the Dongbang Hydro Power Plant and SsangYong Energy's SsangYong Brewery site, as well as 10 other Koreans who are isolated but are believed to be safe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to coordinate with the Nepalese foreign minister via phone later today to request assistance.

The Nepalese Tourism Department has reported that 403 tourists are currently missing, with 341 being foreign nationals, while 28 police officers are also uncontactable. Nepal has also reported 265 missing citizens, including the Chinese side. Landslides in the affected areas have submerged entire villages, and at least 19 bridges have been lost.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has retracted its earlier report that the earthquake, which registered 4.4, was the cause of the disaster, instead attributing the blame to a 5.2 magnitude rockslide. Climate experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have explained that a massive rockslide could have been triggered by the melting of glacial ice, which blocked a river and caused the devastating surge.