(LEAD) S. Korean helicopter search canceled for 9 missing in Nepal floods

SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government and Doosan Enerbility Co. have scrapped their plans to deploy two helicopters for the search of nine missing South Koreans in Nepal's recent floods, following local authorities' safety concerns, officials disclosed on Sunday. Originally scheduled to be utilized were one helicopter chartered by the government's rapid response team and another by Doosan Enerbility.

However, the Nepali government's refusal to grant flight authorization left the helicopters on standby, awaiting further instructions.

On Saturday, a government-chartered helicopter carrying four members of the rapid response team attempted to fly twice towards the flood site in Nepal, becoming the sole foreign aircraft permitted to take off on that day. Regrettably, the helicopter was unable to land, and the search operation shifted to a visual reconnaissance, with footage from the flight subsequently scrutinized.

As of now, six employees from Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea South-East Power Co. remain unaccounted for since the catastrophic floods struck Nepal's north-central Himalayan region on Wednesday. They were engaged in the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in the Rasuwa district when the disaster befell the area. Ten additional Doosan employees, who had been confined to a different location, have since been evacuated to safer grounds.