[Yonhap]
[Yonhap]

Ten South Koreans stranded by flooding in Nepal have been confirmed safe, but eight others at a hydroelectric power plant construction site remain out of contact, the government said, adding that it will dispatch a rapid response team to support search and rescue operations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later said one additional Korean national had lost contact, bringing the total number of unreachable citizens to nine.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun chaired a meeting of the overseas Korean protection task force at the ministry's Seoul headquarters at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday to review the situation and coordinate the response to the Nepal floods.

In his opening remarks, Cho said eight Korean nationals affiliated with Korea South-East Power (KOEN) and Doosan Enerbility had lost contact.

He added that 10 other Doosan Enerbility employees had evacuated and were awaiting rescue alongside some 200 foreign workers, including Nepali nationals, and had been confirmed safe in the company of a South Korean consul dispatched to the scene.

Cho also relayed instructions from the president. "The president has directed us to make the lives and safety of our citizens the top priority and to mobilize every available means to devote all efforts to the search and rescue," he said.

He added that the president had also urged the ministry to work closely with the Nepali government and local authorities to support the families of those out of contact, ensure the safety of Koreans remaining on site, and do everything possible to prevent further casualties.

Cho cautioned that rescue operations could face significant difficulties. "Foreign media reports indicate that hundreds of people are missing in this incident, so we expect the rescue work to be challenging," he said, calling on the ministry headquarters and the local embassy to coordinate closely with relevant agencies and spare no effort in the swift and safe search and rescue of Korean nationals.

The government plans to dispatch a joint rapid response team Thursday, led by Im Sang-woo, the ministry's representative for overseas Korean protection and consular affairs. The team, drawn from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Fire Agency and the Korean National Police Agency, will support the search and rescue of Korean nationals and manage on-the-ground response.

Cho asked the South Korean Embassy in Nepal to continue confirming the safety of stranded Koreans and providing support until the rapid response team arrives on site.

"I will also speak with Nepal's foreign minister on Thursday to request cooperation," he said.

The floods struck the Rasuwa area in north-central Nepal, where mountainous terrain and poor road and communications infrastructure are expected to slow damage assessment and rescue efforts. The government said it will focus on locating those out of contact and securing the safety of stranded nationals through coordination among the local embassy, Nepali authorities and relevant ministries.


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