{
  "id": 3990175,
  "title": "Nepal declines foreign rescue help, South Korea says negotiating",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/nepal-declines-foreign-rescue-help-south-korea-says-negotiating",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T15:17:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/nepal-declines-foreign-rescue-help-south-korea-says-it-is-negotiating/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nepal has declined foreign rescue assistance following a devastating flash flood that struck several towns on Wednesday, according to the nation's foreign ministry. Despite numerous offers from countries with missing nationals, the flood devastated areas including Rasuwa district near the Chinese border, destroying entire towns, damaging hydroelectric plants, and claiming the lives of nearly 500 people. Hundreds of foreign nationals remain unaccounted for, with South Korea among them, stating that it has already dispatched a response team and will send a disaster relief team to Nepal. However, Nepal's foreign ministry declared on Friday that it is managing the rescue efforts independently, stating that the offer for help is natural and that their security agencies are conducting the search-and-rescue operation. For now, Nepal does not require such assistance. The Kathmandu Post reported that several countries, including India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, had requested the government to permit their search-and-rescue teams to assist in the operation. South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed that Nepal has not yet indicated a plan to accept foreign rescue teams, adding that they will continue negotiations with Nepal on the matter. Seoul has pledged $1 million in humanitarian assistance through international organizations, according to its foreign minister. Nine South Koreans were working at a hydropower plant at the time of the flood and are currently missing, while 10 others were stranded, the foreign ministry reported on Wednesday.",
  "summary": "Nepal's foreign ministry said on Friday that it was managing the rescue efforts itself.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}