Families of nine South Korean workers missing in Nepal following a glacier-triggered flash flood urged authorities on Friday to secure helicopter access for search operations. The workers, six employed by Doosan Enerbility and three by Korea South-East Power, were at a hydropower project site when the disaster occurred on Wednesday. Relatives expressed concern that rescuers were losing critical time more than 48 hours after the event and requested prompt updates and search footage.
The incident began on Wednesday when a flash flood, triggered by a glacier, struck a major hydropower project in Nepal. A South Korean rapid response team arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday night but remained grounded as of Friday morning. According to the South Korean Foreign Ministry, the team was awaiting flight clearance to travel to the disaster site. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered an all-out response to the disaster on Thursday.
Nepal's military has restricted private helicopter operations due to concerns about further flooding. On Friday, Nepal's Foreign Ministry stated that it was managing rescue efforts and did not need foreign assistance. Earlier that day, the South Korean Foreign Ministry reported that Nepal indicated it was not yet planning to accept foreign rescue teams, though the ministry said discussions were ongoing. Doosan Enerbility CEO Jeong Yeon-in and Korea South-East Power executive Yoon Jang-hyun both stated their companies are mobilizing resources to locate the missing employees.
Nepal is currently monitoring two lakes to manage flood risks, and an official stated that the risk will remain until those lakes are fully drained. No specific date has been reported for when the South Korean rapid response team might receive flight clearance or when foreign rescue teams might be permitted to enter the affected area.