[AP/Newsis]
[AP/Newsis]

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Wednesday that South Korea is working to determine the whereabouts and safety of its nationals who went missing or became stranded following a sudden flood in Nepal, pledging to do everything possible to secure their rescue.

Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building, Cho said the ministry and South Korea's local mission were working closely with the Nepalese government. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is doing its best. Our mission on the ground is also doing its best alongside the Nepalese government," he said.

"I hope they are rescued as soon as possible. We will make every effort to ensure that," he added.

A large-scale flood struck the Rasuwa area of Bagmati Province in north-central Nepal earlier, cutting off contact with eight South Korean employees working at a hydropower plant construction site — staff from Korea South-East Power (KOEN) and Doosan Enerbility. Ten additional South Korean workers from Doosan Enerbility were also reported stranded in the area.

However, the rapidly evolving situation on the ground has led to conflicting information about rescue progress and the whereabouts of those affected.

Asked whether the whereabouts of the eight missing KOEN and Doosan Enerbility employees had been confirmed, Cho said, "Somewhat contradictory messages are coming in right now. I am planning to convene a meeting and receive a direct briefing."

He was similarly cautious about whether the 10 stranded Doosan Enerbility workers had been rescued. "We are holding a meeting to verify the situation because conflicting messages have come in on that as well," Cho said, adding it was too early to confirm the status of any rescue.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was set to hold a meeting of its Overseas Koreans Protection Task Force that day to review the situation of missing and stranded South Koreans in the flood-affected areas and assess rescue progress. Findings from the meeting were to be made public afterward.

In Nepal's mountainous regions, flash floods triggered by heavy rain or glacial lake outbursts can quickly sever communications and road access, making it difficult to assess the full extent of damage in a timely manner. Swift confirmation of the missing nationals' whereabouts by the ministry and its local mission, along with coordinated rescue efforts with Nepalese authorities, will be key.


rainbow@heraldcorp.com