The Nepali military has stated that it will not permit the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to conduct a foot search in the area where nine South Koreans went missing during last month's major floods, citing safety concerns.

Speaking to reporters in Kathmandu via a video link from the base camp in Batar, Nuwakot district, Bagmati Province, in south-central Nepal, a KDRT official said, "During a meeting with the military commander of the Batar region today [following the morning search], we proposed to the Nepali military that we conduct a foot search in Ramche [located about 2 kilometers from the camp where the missing South Koreans stayed]."

However, the official explained, "The military commander in the Batar region stated that 'foot searches are dangerous' and that they cannot allow risky actions within their operational zone."

In fact, the terrain from the weir dam, the upper dam where one of the missing South Koreans worked, down to the powerhouse housing the plant's turbines is reportedly a steep, nearly 90-degree mountainous region.

During consultations earlier in the day, the KDRT proposed searching around the weir dam area, the powerhouse, and the Yellow Bridge, which the Nepali military accepted.

Afterward, the KDRT was supported by Nepali military helicopters to conduct an aerial search around the powerhouse using four drones, but no unusual signs regarding the nine missing South Koreans were found.

Earlier that morning, the KDRT also used two Nepali military helicopters for a three-hour search of the area where the South Koreans went missing.

A KDRT official said, "We plan to search in a similar manner tomorrow," while adding, "The search plan may change depending on tomorrow's weather conditions."

Previously, the KDRT attempted an aerial search yesterday with the support of two Nepali military helicopters, but due to weather conditions, one had to turn back and the other was unable to even take off.

Earlier today, two Nepali employees were dramatically rescued near the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric power plant in Bagmati Province nine days after the massive flood, raising expectations that hundreds of others presumed trapped in several power plant tunnels could also be rescued.

The Trishuli 3A hydroelectric power plant is located about 6 kilometers downstream along the Trishuli River from the Upper Trishuli (UT)-1 hydroelectric power plant where the nine missing South Koreans were working.

The massive floods that occurred in the upper Himalayan mountainous region on the 26th of last month left more than 1,300 dead and about 5,600 missing across both Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region, which share a border.

Among the missing were nine South Korean employees who were constructing the Upper Trishuli (UT)-1 hydroelectric power plant in the Rasuwa region of Bagmati Province.

They consist of six employees from Doosan Enerbility and three employees from Korea South-East Power Co.

(Photo: Yonhap News)