Nepal flash floods: Indian tunnel rescue team makes progress at flood-hit Chilime hydropower site

Seoul, September 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to travel to Nepal this weekend to discuss assistance for search-and-rescue efforts following catastrophic floods, according to the foreign ministry. His three-day visit, spanning through Monday, will include meetings with Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and family members of South Koreans still unaccounted for in the disaster zone.

Nine South Koreans, comprising six employees from Doosan Enerbility Co. and three from Korea South-East Power Co., are reported missing after the floods and landslides struck the Rasuwa District near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, while they were engaged in hydropower plant construction. Cho is anticipated to request Nepal's assistance in bolstering the search operations and explore collaboration in the recovery of the affected regions during his talks with Khanal.

Additionally, he intends to bolster the efforts of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) presently on the ground and hold discussions with officials from the enterprises leading their own rescue endeavors.

The KDRT, dispatched by the South Korean government to aid in the search-and-rescue mission, is collaborating with Nepalese authorities and corporate response teams, employing helicopters, drones, search dogs, and other equipment to scour for the missing individuals. Cho expressed his condolences to the families of the missing workers before embarking on his trip from Incheon International Airport.

"Conditions in Nepal are extremely challenging. I will meet with the families of our workers who are still missing and discuss strategies together. I will also discuss future plans with our emergency relief team deployed to the site," Cho conveyed to reporters prior to his departure.

South Korea and Nepal share a long-standing friendship and partnership. Cho plans to meet with Nepal's foreign minister and other officials to deliberate on rebuilding the impacted areas and South Korea's involvement in reconstruction initiatives. As of Wednesday, the death toll had risen to over 1,200, while nearly 6,000 were still unaccounted for, as per foreign media reports.