Doosan and KOEN Teams Begin Field Helicopter Searches, Facing Bad Weather Conditions

Search and rescue operations by local response teams from Korea South-East Power (KOEN) and Doosan Enerbility have begun to search for nine missing South Koreans following massive floods in Nepal.

However, the search operations are facing difficulties due to delayed permissions from the Nepalese military authorities and poor weather conditions.

The local response teams plan to conduct searches focusing on high-altitude areas near the accident site using helicopters and drones as soon as conditions improve.

According to government authorities and local corporate response teams today (August 29), helicopter search operations by the KOEN and Doosan Enerbility response teams began starting on August 28.

The nine South Koreans with whom contact has been lost are six employees from Doosan Enerbility and three employees from KOEN who were working on the construction of a hydroelectric power plant locally.

One helicopter chartered by KOEN received approval from the Nepalese military authorities on August 28 and conducted its first search of the massive flood-affected area.

Nepalese authorities had previously withheld helicopter operations due to concerns over secondary floods, but granted permission just before sunset, allowing KOEN's helicopter to begin its initial search.

However, no news has been reported regarding the discovery of the missing South Koreans.

KOEN and Doosan Enerbility are standing by in Kathmandu, located 70 kilometers away from the accident site, to launch full-scale helicopter searches starting today.

While these companies are gradually receiving helicopter operation permits from Nepalese authorities, local weather conditions remain an obstacle hindering the searches.

Doosan Enerbility received helicopter operation approval from Nepalese authorities today and is preparing for flight.

A local Nepalese national and a South Korean Doosan employee who is familiar with the conditions of the affected area due to past work experience at the accident site will board the helicopter together.

Drones will also be deployed to search areas in high-altitude regions where the missing persons may have taken shelter.

Because the affected area is vast, aerial searches will be prioritized to locate the missing persons or traces of them.

However, due to deteriorating weather conditions such as rain in the affected area this morning, the helicopters have not yet been able to take off.

Rescue operations using helicopters for the missing persons in the accident zone are temporarily suspended due to severe weather.

Doosan Enerbility chartered two helicopters the previous day and prepared for operations, but was unable to carry out search work as permits were not granted.

The government's rapid response team also failed to launch its helicopters.

The Nepalese military authorities are known to grant helicopter operation permits very restrictively out of safety concerns.

Ten South Koreans affiliated with Doosan Enerbility, who had been isolated since August 26 after surrounding roads were washed away by floods, are now all in Kathmandu.

Nine people escaped the isolated area first, and the site manager and 15 local employees who remained at the scene also moved to a safe location the previous day.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.