(3rd LD) Despite helicopter, drone searches, no meaningful progress in finding missing Koreans in Nepal: official

South Korea has dispatched a rapid response team to Nepal to assist in the search for nine South Koreans missing in devastating floods. Despite employing a helicopter and drones, the team has not made any significant headway in locating the missing individuals. The team, comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, police, and fire authorities, arrived in Nepal last week to provide support to rescue efforts.

Some members initially arrived by land and eventually made their way to Dhunche, a town in Nepal's Rasuwa district. Helicopter searches also took place, but the team was unable to secure clearance to operate due to adverse weather conditions and a decision made by Nepalese authorities to restrict foreign helicopter operations. Doosan Enerbility Co. contributed to the search by providing one of its helicopters under the approval of local authorities.

The helicopter joined the search efforts after flying over the site where the missing individuals were working at a hydroelectric power plant construction site in Rasuwa district. While the primary focus has been on ground searches, the team is also considering initiating a drone search, pending approval from local authorities. South Korea's new Ambassador to Nepal, Park Jae-kyung, has pledged his full support for the search and rescue operations, expressing deep concern over the extraordinary circumstances and the heavy responsibility he inherited.