Families of Missing South Korean Workers in Nepal Urge Faster Helicopter Search

Families of South Korean workers missing after a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal are pressing authorities to expedite helicopter access for search operations, warning that rescuers are losing critical time more than 48 hours after the disaster.

The nine missing workers were employed by Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power and were involved in a major hydropower project when a glacier-triggered flash flood struck on Wednesday.

Relatives of the Doosan Enerbility employees expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of visible progress despite official assurances. They said they had not received sufficient information about the workers' whereabouts or the circumstances of the disaster, and called for search footage and other updates to be shared promptly.

The families also urged South Korea to press Nepalese authorities through diplomatic channels for more active support.

A South Korean rapid response team that arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday night was still awaiting flight clearance to travel to the affected area, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry. Nepal's military had restricted private helicopter operations over concerns of further flooding.

Earlier on Friday, the ministry said Nepal had indicated it was not yet planning to accept foreign rescue teams and was holding discussions on the matter. Nepal's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it did not need foreign assistance for search-and-rescue operations and that it was managing the rescue efforts.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered an all-out response to the disaster on Thursday. Doosan Enerbility CEO Jeong Yeon-in said the company was working closely with relevant authorities and would make every possible effort to rescue employees who remained out of contact.

Yoon Jang-hyun, head of new growth business at Korea South-East Power, said the company would focus on searching for its employees and assessing conditions at the site, adding that it would mobilise all its capabilities to secure their safe return.

The nine South Korean workers still unaccounted for include six Doosan Enerbility employees and three employed by Korea South-East Power.