Rescue teams are working around the clock to reach hundreds of people believed to be trapped inside blocked hydropower project tunnels in Nepal, following a catastrophic flash flood that has claimed over 900 lives and left thousands missing. The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border, unleashed an unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud, and debris.
The death toll has surpassed 900, with more than 4,250 people reported missing. Unidentified bodies have been buried in shallow graves due to the humid weather and the sheer volume of casualties. Nepali officials stated that the primary focus is on reaching workers trapped within approximately six hydropower project tunnels that were inundated and blocked by the floodwaters.
Disturbing videos and images show earth-moving equipment operating under floodlights in efforts to clear mud and rock. Soldiers have been seen using torchlight to probe the debris blocking tunnel entrances. "Teams had used a pipe to begin 'sending air through the small opening'," Nepali Home Minister Sudan Gurung stated.
At the Upper Trishuli 3A site, rescuers successfully breached the upper section of a mud-filled tunnel and began pumping air into it, followed by excavation efforts. However, Prime Minister Balendra Shah reported on Sunday night that there was "no response" when teams called out to anyone inside. The Nepal Army confirmed on Monday that efforts continue to "clear water, mud, and sediment from inside the tunnel."
Specialized tunnel rescue teams from India, China, and South Korea have joined the operation. A Chinese team working at the Upper Trishuli-1 site managed to enter about 300 meters into a tunnel and recovered one body. Indian teams deployed at the Chilime Hydro tunnel entered 100 meters before encountering a blockage of mud and soil, recovering two bodies.
Nepali mountain rescue teams, experienced in high-altitude rescues, are also participating in the extensive search and recovery efforts. The Nepal Electricity Authority reported that 11 hydropower stations and one solar power station, accounting for approximately 10% of the country's installed electricity generation capacity, have ceased operations. Additionally, 15 power projects under construction were damaged.
The Red Cross estimates that over 90,000 people may have been affected by the disaster. China has linked the event to the effects of climate change. On the Chinese side, authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in Gyirong County.
Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the flood as an "unprecedented and devastating natural disaster" and acknowledged the immense challenge in assessing the full extent of the damage. "Despite the adverse weather, difficult terrain and continuing risks, we are moving forward with determination to save the lives of our citizens," he posted on social media, noting the involvement of nearly 21,000 security personnel, civilian workers, and volunteers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that Beijing is making all efforts to search for missing persons. China has mobilized over 2,100 rescue workers and allocated significant funds for relief efforts, airdropping equipment and using life-detection technology. While Nepal stated it does not require general foreign assistance, it has sought specialized tunnel rescue expertise from its neighbors.
Rescue operations have faced several suspensions due to adverse weather and concerns over a growing lake formed by debris across the Nepal-China border, which began overflowing into Nepali rivers. Chinese state media reported that a second landslide-formed lake had largely drained naturally. Authorities are monitoring an impact crater near the glacier collapse site, which has expanded significantly and holds a substantial volume of water, posing a risk of further downstream flooding.
There are concerns about potential future landslides and the creation of additional lakes. China's state broadcaster attributed the flood to "glacier instability under the long-term effects of global warming," identifying it as a significant emerging feature of cryosphere disasters on the Tibetan plateau. However, Nepali officials have expressed that China has not shared sufficient information on glacier risks and water levels, potentially hindering future disaster preparedness. A meeting held in May between Nepalese and Chinese officials to discuss cooperation on flood and glacier-related hazards yielded requests for joint risk-reduction measures, but Nepali hydrologists felt they did not receive adequate data.
No parties have been officially blamed for the natural disaster, which is expected to cost an estimated tenth of Nepal's annual economic output to recover from. Nepali officials have emphasized the priority of deepening cooperation with China.