‘연락두절 9명’ 댐 현장에 있다 피해…산악지대라 수색 작업 난항

A group of nine Korean nationals are trapped at a dam site in Nepal following a sudden landslide and flood. The Korean government and Nepal's police and military have been searching for them, but as of 10 PM on the 27th, their whereabouts remained unknown. Among the 10 initial Koreans stranded near the dam, nine were airlifted to a safer zone by Nepal's military helicopters on the 28th.

The incident occurred due to a landslide triggered by a flash flood in Nepal's northern Lhasa region on the 26th. The nine are employees of Korean-owned companies involved in the construction of a power plant. The safety of the dam and its staff remains uncertain, as it is a challenging mountainous area where searches are limited to nighttime.

The nine Koreans were staying with local workers at a facility and the weather prevented further searches. 15 Nepalese workers and officials are still present at the site, along with embassy staff. The foreign ministry is seeking additional helicopters to evacuate the remaining individuals, but evening darkness may complicate the transport.

The government is investigating the possibility of additional Korean tourists being present. No other Korean nationals have been reported missing in Nepal today. A government joint rapid response team of 11 arrived in Kathmandu today and will meet with Nepalese officials to discuss further assistance. President Yoon Suk-yeol convened an emergency meeting with key officials, canceling a scheduled meeting and holding a separate emergency conference on flood response.