Workers at Local Power Plant Construction Site... Government Dispatches Rapid Response Team

[Anchor]

It has been confirmed that the 8 South Korean nationals who have lost contact and the 10 isolated at the site were employees working at a local hydroelectric power plant construction site. The government has decided to dispatch a joint government rapid response team to the scene. Reporter Kim Ayeong at the newsroom is connected.

Reporter Kim, please give us the details.

[Reporter]

Yes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that 8 South Korean employees belonging to Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, who were constructing a hydroelectric power plant in the Rasuwa region of Nepal, lost contact due to floods that occurred locally on the morning of today (the 26th), local time.

Currently, the Nepalese government has dispatched rescue teams consisting of the army and police to the affected area to conduct search and rescue operations.

Another 10 South Koreans belonging to Doosan Enerbility are isolated locally and awaiting rescue.

The Nepalese government has sent helicopters to rescue them.

Korea South-East Power is building a hydroelectric power plant in Nepal, and Doosan Enerbility is reportedly in charge of the construction.

Immediately after learning of the incident, the South Korean Embassy in Nepal notified the Nepalese government of the loss of contact with the 8 South Koreans, requested prompt and active search and rescue, and urgently dispatched a consul to the scene.

The Presidential Office announced that President Lee Jae-myung received a briefing and issued an urgent directive to make the life and safety of our citizens the top priority and to mobilize all available means to focus all efforts on searching for and rescuing the missing persons.

President Lee requested close cooperation with the Nepalese government and local authorities, taking thorough measures to support the families of the missing persons, securing the safety of our citizens staying on-site, and doing his utmost to prevent additional damage.

The government has established a Countermeasures Headquarters for the Protection of Overseas Koreans headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and plans to dispatch a joint government rapid response team consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Fire Agency, and the Korean National Police Agency to the site in the shortest possible time.

Doosan Enerbility also announced that it has formed a countermeasures team and plans to urgently dispatch them to the site tomorrow morning.

Reuters reported a short while ago that 384 travelers, including 291 foreigners, are missing due to the floods in Nepal.

(Video by Jeon Min-gyu)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.