Key facts
- One person was rescued alive from a Nepal tunnel nine days after flooding.
- Another person is also being brought out of the tunnel.
- The disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse near Nepal’s border with Tibet.
- At least 750 people have died and over 3,000 are missing.
- Rescue efforts are focused on the Trishuli 3A and 3B sites.
One person has been rescued alive from a tunnel in Nepal, nine days after catastrophic flooding, while another is also being brought out, a lawmaker said on Friday. Rescuers are working to reach hydropower workers believed trapped in tunnels swamped by flood debris.
The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse near Nepal’s border with Tibet, has resulted in at least 750 deaths and over 3,000 missing people. The Nepal Army has been using drills and other equipment to access the tunnels, particularly at the Trishuli 3A and 3B sites, and has resumed efforts after rain and rising river waters previously hampered operations.
The government has requested specialist assistance from India and China to aid in the rescue efforts. The floods have devastated homes and livelihoods, with many residents losing their businesses and products. International aid has been pledged by the United Nations, the Red Cross Federation, Australia, India, South Korea, the United States, and the European Union.