South Korean police searching for 7 missing Asian Games athletes, 1 reporter

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korean police are searching for seven athletes and a reporter who went missing after the Asian Games closed on Saturday in the port city of Incheon.

The whereabouts of three athletes from Nepal, two from Sri Lanka, and one each from Bangladesh and the Palestinian territories are unknown, police inspector Baek Seung-cheol said on Wednesday. A TV reporter from Pakistan was also missing, he added.

Police believe there was a possibility that the eight were looking to work illegally in the country, and have been focusing their search efforts in the nearby city of Ansan, which has a large community of migrant workers.

Police said the athletes’ visas expire on Oct. 19, and the reporter’s on Oct. 30.

Nearly 10,000 athletes competed in the Asian Games.

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