South Korea launches helicopter search for missing nationals in Nepal flood zone

South Korea has begun helicopter search operations in Nepal to locate Korean nationals who lost contact following devastating floods.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a helicopter carrying four National Fire Agency personnel from the government's joint rapid response team departed Kathmandu at around 11:45 a.m. Saturday and headed to the affected area. A second helicopter, carrying four personnel from the National Fire Agency, Korean National Police Agency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lifted off at 12:38 p.m.

Helicopter deployment is essential because the disaster zone is difficult to reach by road, but Nepali authorities had restricted foreign helicopter operations, citing the risk of additional flooding. The government response team, Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power had secured six helicopters in Kathmandu, but on Friday only one — operated by Korea South-East Power — was able to conduct search flights.

With weather conditions improving somewhat, a Doosan Enerbility helicopter also received clearance to fly Saturday, separately from the government-chartered aircraft.

The South Korean Embassy in Nepal has provided Nepali authorities with coordinate and location data for areas where Korean nationals have gone missing, and has requested cooperation on search and rescue. Im Sang-woo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' government representative for overseas Korean protection and consular affairs, met with Nepali foreign ministry officials on Friday to discuss search support measures, including helicopter operations.

Additional response personnel were also dispatched to the scene. Nine people — one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and eight from the National Fire Agency — departed Incheon Airport on Saturday afternoon bound for Kathmandu. The government had earlier sent an 11-member joint rapid response team, including Im, to Nepal on Thursday.

The government is also preparing to deploy its overseas emergency relief team. It has informed Nepali authorities of its readiness to provide assistance and will dispatch the team immediately by transport aircraft if Nepal makes a formal request.

However, the Nepali government is currently conducting rescue operations primarily through its own military and police, and has indicated it will make a separate request if additional foreign assistance is needed.

Meanwhile, Nepal has agreed to allow foreign experts to assist in limited areas, including structural work inside the hydropower plant tunnel, DNA testing and forensic investigation. According to the Kathmandu Post, four countries have been granted approval to provide support: South Korea, India, China and Australia.