A joint rapid response team dispatched by the government to search for nine Koreans missing in massive flooding in Nepal will switch to an overland search as helicopter operations face difficulties.
A rapid response team official met with reporters at a hotel in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, on the 30th (local time) and said, "Unfortunately, helicopter clearance was not granted today," adding, "Some personnel set out by land in the morning and moved as close as possible to the accident site."
The team arrived that day in the Batar area of Bidur, about 70 kilometers from Rasuwa, where the accident occurred.
After checking supplies and equipment needed for overland entry and returning to the embassy in the evening to compile the on-site situation, they determined that an overland search is feasible.
Barring special variables, they plan to set out again early on the morning of the 31st and advance to areas near the accident site.
They also asked a senior Nepal police official to focus the search on areas where the nine missing Koreans are presumed to be. A rapid response team official said, "We directly asked the senior police official to concentrate the search on a specific area, and received the answer, 'We will do so.'"
After entering by land, they also plan to use drones in the search. The team has applied to the Nepalese authorities for permission to use drones.
The team met with a senior Nepal police official that day and asked for a search focused on areas where the nine missing Koreans are presumed to be.
A rapid response team official said, "We directly asked the senior police official to concentrate the search on a specific area, and received the answer, 'We will do so.'"
However, the official added, "They were supposed to contact me immediately if anything came up, but unfortunately there were no notable results today."
The official also noted, "In Nepal, (by government policy) there are currently no activities by foreign rescue teams," indicating there are constraints on local rescue and search operations.
Meanwhile, regarding the request from families of the missing Doosan Enerbility employee in the morning to disclose flight-track data and recorded videos and photos from the helicopter search conducted since on the 28th, the official answered, "We are sharing everything with the families."
The official added, "Barring special variables, we plan to set out early tomorrow (the 31st) morning to go a bit farther upstream."
Considering the possibility of obtaining helicopter flight clearance, the rapid response team plans to keep some personnel back for the aerial search.
A rapid response team official said, "The ultimate goal is to carry out activities to locate those out of contact," adding, "We are setting various things up for rescue operations."
After entering by land, the team also plans to use drones during search operations. To that end, they have applied for permission to use drones.
The rapid response team also met with a senior police official that day and asked for a search focused on places where the nine missing Koreans are presumed to be.
The official said, "We directly asked the senior police official to concentrate the search on a specific area, and received the answer, 'We will do so.'"
However, the official added, "They were supposed to contact me immediately if anything came up, but unfortunately there were no notable results today."
A response team official said, "In Nepal, (by government policy) there are currently no activities by foreign rescue teams," conveying that there are constraints on conducting rescue and search operations.
Regarding the request made in the morning by the family of the missing Doosan Enerbility employee to disclose to families the flight-track data and recorded videos and photos from the helicopter search carried out since on the 28th, the official answered, "We are sharing everything with the families."