Four Korean Teachers Missing in Nepal Annapurna Avalanche... "Missing Persons Not Found Despite Helicopter Search"

7 People Move to 'Chomlong' Area
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dispatches Rapid Response Team

(Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Amid the disappearance of six people, including four Korean teachers, due to an avalanche on the Annapurna trekking course in the high mountains of Nepal, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 18th that five people who evacuated to a mountain lodge in the Deurali area and two who remained at the accommodation were moved by helicopter to a mountain lodge in the Chomrong area at an altitude of 2,140 meters.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at 1:25 PM on the same day, the first advance team consisting of seven members?two from the Ministry’s rapid response team, two officials from the Chungnam Office of Education, and three from the travel agency?departed for the site via Incheon Airport. The first advance team is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal, at 9:20 PM Korean time. Six family members of the missing persons also accompanied the first advance team.

The accident occurred when nine Koreans encountered an avalanche between 10:30 and 11:00 AM local time on the 17th in the Deurali area (altitude 3,230m) on the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trekking course.

The four missing persons are identified as elementary and middle school teachers affiliated with the Chungnam Office of Education. Two local guides were also involved in the accident.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Among the 11 teachers from the Chungnam Office of Education, nine encountered the avalanche while moving, and the four who were ahead lost contact along with the local guide."

Search operations for the missing are reported to be facing difficulties due to worsening local weather conditions. The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal stated, "Immediately after receiving the accident report, we actively requested search efforts from the Pokhara police officials responsible for the area," and added, "Nepalese authorities conducted land and air searches on the 18th but have not yet found the missing persons."

The teachers involved in the accident had departed on the 13th and planned to conduct educational volunteer activities in Nepal until the 25th. The Chungnam Office of Education stated that the accident occurred while trekking during the weekend when students do not attend school.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal will continue to provide consular assistance for the prompt resolution of the situation, including search and rescue of the missing, support for the families of the victims, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Chungnam Office of Education, the travel agency involved, and Nepalese authorities.

Meanwhile, the Chungnam Office of Education formed a task force chaired by the superintendent on the 17th and dispatched a liaison officer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 18th to respond to the situation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.