Nepal declines foreign rescue help, S. Korea says it is negotiating

KATHMANDU — Nepal has declined foreign rescue aid following the devastating flash flood that struck several towns on Wednesday, according to the country's foreign ministry. Despite offers from several nations with nationals still missing, the flood devastated areas including Rasuwa district near the Chinese border, destroying entire towns, damaging hydropower facilities, and claiming over 500 lives.

Hundreds of foreign nationals remain unaccounted for, including South Koreans, who have dispatched a response team and plan to send a disaster relief team. However, Nepal's foreign ministry announced on Friday that they are independently managing the rescue operations. Lok Bahadur Chhetri, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, stated on Friday, "The offer for help is natural.

Our security agencies are doing the search-and-rescue operation. For now, we don't require such assistance." India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh had all requested permission for their search-and-rescue teams to participate in the operation.