The Facts Differ from the Reported Circumstances of the Annapurna Accident... Errors in the Announcement of the Accident Location

Trekking Confirmed to Have Started on the 16th, Not the 17th

Chungnam Provincial Office of Education Explains, "Communication Cut Off with Local Teachers, Errors Occurred While Receiving Information Through Travel Agency"

▲Heavy snowfall in Annapurna. Four Koreans went missing due to the snow disaster in Annapurna, Nepal. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] It has been confirmed that the circumstances of the disappearance of four teachers from the Chungnam Education Volunteer Group in Nepal's Annapurna Himalayas were announced inaccurately.

According to the Chungnam Provincial Office of Education on the 19th, out of the 11 members of the education volunteer group including the missing teachers, 9 arrived at Deurali Lodge (altitude 3,230m) on the 16th, stayed overnight, and the next day, while descending the mountain due to worsening weather, encountered an avalanche.

The briefing by the Provincial Office of Education on the 18th stating that the accident occurred after departing from Sinowa (altitude 2,340m) on the 17th, going to Deurali, and returning due to bad weather was found to be incorrect.

At the briefing that day, Eunbok Lee, Director of Education at the Chungnam Provincial Office of Education, stated, "The teachers were volunteering at study rooms in elementary and middle schools in the Kathmandu area, and took advantage of Friday and the weekend when students do not attend school to go trekking in nearby areas, during which the accident occurred."

This announcement has been continuously questioned as likely untrue based on information from people who have visited Nepal, pointing out that Sinowa and Deurali are not close enough to travel back and forth in one day.

In response, the Chungnam Provincial Office of Education explained, "After the accident, communication with local teachers was cut off, and there was confusion while receiving information through the travel agency," adding, "We are now receiving information through official government channels such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has arrived locally."

The accident location and evacuation site announced in the first briefing by the Provincial Office of Education were also confirmed to be inaccurate.

The Office initially announced that the accident occurred below Himalaya Lodge (altitude 2,920m), but considering that the accident happened while descending after an overnight stay at Deurali, it is estimated that the avalanche occurred between Deurali and Himalaya Lodge.

It is also highly likely that the five evacuees took refuge at Deurali Lodge rather than Himalaya Lodge.

An official from the Provincial Office of Education said, "The exact circumstances will be confirmed through the five people who stayed at the shelter after the avalanche and then moved to a safe location," and added, "Due to limited channels for receiving local information, errors occurred as the announcement was made without fully accurate understanding."