Search and rescue operations in Nepal have entered their 12th day, with hopes of further miracles persisting after a 64-year-old woman was found alive in her mud-encased home. The disaster, caused by an unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud, and debris on the Nepal-Tibet border nearly two weeks ago, is attributed to a glacier collapse. The event has claimed at least 1,300 lives, with approximately 5,000 people still missing.
Hundreds of individuals remain trapped within blocked hydropower project tunnels in the disaster's aftermath. Rescuers reported finding two more survivors on Saturday, adding to two individuals rescued the previous day. These rescues have been described as miraculous. Officials confirmed on Saturday that a Chinese national was pulled alive from the tunnels, bringing the total number of people rescued from the Trishuli hydropower project to three. Two Nepalese workers were extracted from a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydropower plant on Friday.
Officials had initially estimated that over 100 workers might be alive within the hydropower tunnels. Nepal's army stated that a joint rescue team, comprising Nepalese military personnel and South Korean disaster experts, successfully extracted the Chinese national from a 225-meter tunnel. He is currently undergoing a health assessment.
In the flood-ravaged town of Nuwakot, a woman was found alive inside a house, according to a spokesperson for Nepal's army.
Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha acknowledged that search and rescue efforts are ongoing in the tunnels despite significant geographical challenges, adverse weather conditions, and communication disruptions. He noted that rescue workers are facing numerous obstacles.
The wall of icy water and debris that descended upon mountain districts on August 26 obliterated roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. On Saturday, rescuers also recovered Chandrika Shrestha, a 64-year-old Nepali woman, from her residence, which had been buried in mud. Police officer Mahendra Darnal recounted that her four-story house was washed away and ended up in quicksand. A 45-minute rescue operation by Mr. Darnal and his team located Ms. Shrestha in a confined space, and she was subsequently transported to an army hospital. Mr. Darnal mentioned that he had been in contact with her family, who had already begun an 11-day mourning period. Images released by Nepal's army depict rescuers finding Ms. Shrestha covered in mud, with rescuers providing her with bottled water before carefully pulling her to safety, wrapped in a blanket. Ms. Shrestha was among hundreds missing in Betrawati, one of the areas most severely impacted by the floods, where buildings were submerged under debris. Prime Minister Balendra Shah stated that her rescue has instilled hope across the nation.
Other accounts of remarkable resilience have emerged, such as that of Rajendra Dawadi, a school principal who initiated an immediate evacuation as the torrent approached, saving hundreds of students. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal described the disaster as a "Himalayan tsunami" and cautioned that reconstruction costs could reach billions of dollars. The United Nations has highlighted the immense challenges in delivering aid due to the scale of destruction and has launched a $50 million appeal to assist over 84,000 affected individuals.
Mass graves have been prepared as mortuaries have overflowed with the sheer volume of deceased. DNA samples are being collected prior to burial for potential future identification, according to local police. To date, only about 100 bodies have been identified and released to their families. Nepal is scheduled to observe a national day of mourning on Monday, marking 13 days since the disaster, in accordance with traditional Hindu mourning periods.
According to Nepal's disaster agency, 1,341 bodies have been recovered, and approximately 4,996 people remain unaccounted for. The death toll in Tibet has risen to 43, with 519 individuals still missing, as reported by China's Xinhua news agency. Experts have also voiced concerns about the potential spread of cholera following the extensive damage caused by the floods. Lila Pieters Yahia, a United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nepal, emphasized the risk of cholera and the urgent need for investment in sanitation and hygiene. She also noted that around 5,000 cattle have perished in the flooding. Ms. Yahia appealed to the international community for immediate assistance, stating, "This is the time to help Nepal. It's not tomorrow and it's not yesterday. We can't leave them there. We can't leave them alone."