Korea dispatches disaster relief team to Nepal to support flood recovery efforts

A South Korean disaster relief team, the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT), has departed for Nepal to assist in the search, rescue, and recovery efforts following devastating floods. The KDRT, comprising 44 personnel from various agencies including the foreign ministry, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and fire authorities, embarked on a KC-330 Cygnus multirole tanker transport aircraft just before midnight on Tuesday.

The team is anticipated to arrive in Nepal at 5:55 a.m. local time, accompanied by 700 pieces of equipment and five search-and-rescue dogs.

The KDRT aims to remain in Nepal for approximately 10 days, engaging in search and rescue operations. This includes locating nine South Koreans who are still missing. The team will collaborate with the Nepali government and utilize a rapid response team that is already present in the country. According to a ministry official, the deployment may be extended beyond 10 days if required. The KDRT is a statutory emergency response unit established to provide disaster relief and search and rescue services.