Helicopter search operations have fully resumed to find nine missing employees from Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power (KOEN) who went missing due to the massive flood in Nepal.

Doosan Enerbility stated that out of the two helicopters it secured, one took off twice today (the 31st), once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

Approval has not yet been granted for the remaining helicopter.

During the morning search, the helicopter reportedly landed near the power plant powerhouse, allowing search personnel to inspect the site conditions firsthand.

The powerhouse is where the plant turbines are located and was the site where 10 South Korean employees were temporarily isolated before being rescued.

Of them, nine returned home safely, while the site manager stayed behind to support the search efforts.

The area around the powerhouse is known to be virtually the only suitable landing spot for a helicopter near the power plant.

After completing the morning search and refueling, the helicopter took off for a second time in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, instead of landing, the helicopter conducted aerial searches over the office building and the upper weir dam where the missing South Korean nationals had been located.

Footage was also recorded for post-analysis.

It was reported that some family members of the missing Doosan Enerbility global employee boarded the helicopter during the afternoon search.

This marks the first time that a helicopter prepared by Doosan Enerbility since the 27th has successfully operated.

On the day before yesterday, the company obtained flight approval, but failed to launch the helicopters due to bad weather in the morning and the Nepalese authorities' policy barring foreign helicopter operations in the afternoon.

No approval was granted yesterday.

Out of the six total helicopters secured by the South Korean side, this is the first operation in two days since the 29th.

At that time, one helicopter chartered by the South Korean government took off twice to conduct search operations.

One South Korean employee from Doosan Enerbility reportedly also boarded the government's joint rapid response team helicopter that participated in today's search.

KOEN also applied for flight approval for a chartered helicopter and the operation of a drone today, but has not yet received approval.

KOEN has not been able to operate helicopters since its last search of the affected area on the 28th, which was approved by the Nepalese military authorities.

A KOEN official stated that since helicopters cannot be freely dispatched, the company is exploring all available methods, including drone searches.

As search operations resume, companies are reinforcing their local response teams under the guidance of top management.

At Doosan Enerbility, Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won and Vice Chairman & CEO Park Ji-won are directly overseeing the local situation.

The two reportedly met with the rescued employees to listen to accounts of the situation at the time and offer comfort.

Doosan Enerbility also additionally dispatched two individuals who are well-versed in local conditions today.

Adding the six employees currently on-site and the eight members of the first dispatch team, the local response team now totals 16 people.

The Doosan Enerbility site manager, who was rescued from the flood site, stated during a local briefing on the 30th local time, "I know the field conditions better than anyone else. I will do my utmost to support the search," expressing his intention to stay behind.

The manager had previously chosen to voluntarily remain in the flood-affected area on the 27th, stating he would stay until all local employees moved to a safe location.

KOEN additionally dispatched a second response team of nine members, including Acting President Cho Young-hyuk, yesterday.

(Photo: Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yonhap News)