President Lee Jae-myung on the 27th presided over an emergency review meeting on the "Nepal floods" situation and said, "Centered on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mobilize all available personnel and resources from the relevant ministries, the local embassy, the rapid response team currently en route, and our corporations on the ground."
That afternoon, Lee canceled the senior secretaries' meeting that had been scheduled to be held at the Blue House and chaired an emergency meeting to review the flood damage. The meeting was attended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Korean National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, and other relevant agencies, as well as Blue House Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and Office of National Security Director Wi Sung-lac and other aides.
Lee said, "In the work of protecting people's lives and safety, there is no such thing as overreacting, so I ask that you mobilize all available resources and do your utmost." Lee also said, "Activate all diplomatic channels with the Nepal government to coordinate the deployment of resources needed for search and rescue," and "Also review in advance the personnel or support measures we can provide to the Nepal government."
As a rule, the Blue House holds a senior secretaries' meeting chaired by the president every Thursday. But considering the seriousness of the damage in Nepal, the Blue House said it would postpone the regular meeting and convene an emergency meeting. A luncheon with lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea that had been scheduled for the 28th was also postponed.
Lee said, "I extend my deepest condolences to the people and government of Nepal," adding, "Please carefully review what support from our government is possible for a swift response to the loss of life and property and for early recovery, and make sure there is no shortage in humanitarian assistance."
Meanwhile, the government on this day dispatched a rapid response team of 11 people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, fire authorities, police, and others to the site. The team is to depart Incheon Airport on a commercial flight, pass through Hong Kong, and arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal. They will support the search and rescue operations for missing Koreans on the ground, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
According to the relevant authorities, on the 26th (local time) floods occurred in the Himalayan mountain region around Bagmati Province in north-central Nepal. So far, at least 165 people have died, and a total of 825 people, including 600 foreigners, are missing. Nine of our nationals affiliated with Korea South-East Power Co. (KOEN) and Doosan Enerbility, who had been doing construction work at a local hydropower plant, also lost contact. Another 10 Koreans are isolated but said to be safe.