On August 26, 2026, large-scale flooding and landslides occurred in Nepal’s Rasuwa District. Nine Koreans working at a hydropower plant construction site were still out of contact and the subject of a search as of 3:25 p.m. on August 31.
Key Change
The Korean government’s joint rapid response team said it planned to move to Lamche, approximately 1–2 kilometers from where the missing individuals were last located, and conduct a ground search overnight. The key change in the response is that the search is being conducted primarily on the ground because access by air is restricted.
Being out of contact does not mean that death or disappearance has been confirmed. Their survival and the final rescue outcome have not yet been confirmed.
Current Status
The nine people who remain out of contact are believed to include six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three employees of Korea South-East Power. Meanwhile, 10 other Koreans who had been stranded during the flooding have been confirmed safe after being rescued by the Nepalese government.
The helicopter search has been hampered by Nepalese authorities’ restrictions on foreign helicopter operations and related permit issues. Drone searches also require approval from local authorities.
Impact
On August 31, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke by phone with Nepalese Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal and requested Nepal’s cooperation in quickly searching for and rescuing the nine missing Koreans, as well as support from the Nepalese Army.
On August 27, the Korean government said it would provide $1 million in humanitarian assistance through international organizations operating locally to support flood recovery and response efforts in Nepal. In a briefing on August 30, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said approximately 19,000 security personnel and 16 helicopters had been mobilized to respond to flooding along the Bhote Koshi River.
What to Check Next
The following developments need to be monitored:
- The progress and results of the overnight ground search around Lamche
- Approval for foreign helicopter operations and whether Nepalese Army support will be provided
- Approval for drone searches and the results of any actual searches
- Whether the nine missing Koreans are alive and the final outcome of rescue efforts
Because the scale of the damage and the search situation may continue to change, the information should be rechecked against official announcements available at the time of publication.