9 Koreans missing in deadly Nepal floods; Seoul sends rapid response team

Nine Koreans remained missing after severe flooding struck Nepal’s north-central Himalayan region, where at least 160 people were killed and 403 others went missing, according to the Korean government, Thursday.

An 11-member government rapid response team will depart Incheon International Airport at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, to support search and rescue operations for the missing Koreans.

The flooding struck the Rasuwa region, Wednesday, where employees of Korea South-East Power Co. and Doosan Enerbility were working on the construction of a hydroelectric power plant.

The number of missing Koreans was initially reported as eight, but the Korean Embassy in Nepal later confirmed that another Korean hired locally by Doosan Enerbility had also lost contact, bringing the total to nine.

Another 10 Korean employees of Doosan Enerbility were stranded in the affected area along with about 200 Nepali and other foreign workers.

The Seoul government, however, confirmed that they had taken shelter in a safe location and were awaiting rescue alongside a consular official dispatched to the scene.

Nepalese