Rescuers in Nepal pulled two workers alive from a hydropower tunnel on Friday, nine days after devastating floods, believed to be caused by a glacier collapse, swept through the region. Officials confirmed the rescue of a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor from the Trishuli 3A tunnel.
Rescuers located the trapped men after hearing voices from inside the tunnel Friday morning. Images broadcast on local television showed one of the rescued men, covered in mud, being carried from the site. Both workers were reported to be in stable condition and were flown to a hospital in Kathmandu. Amir Maharjan, brother to one of the rescued, expressed his gratitude, stating, "I can’t explain what we are feeling at the moment. We are just grateful to god."
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The floods, which struck on August 26, devastated towns and swept away villages along the Nepal-Tibet border. The Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal reported that at least 557 workers are missing from the Trishuli 3A hydropower project, with approximately 115 believed to be trapped in the main tunnel. Officials at the rescue site expressed hope that more individuals might still be alive inside the tunnel.
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Nepal's Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina stated that officials remain hopeful for further rescues. "We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people," Timilsina wrote on Facebook.
Overall, at least 1,259 people were killed and over 5,000 remain missing in Nepal due to the floods and mudslides, according to the country’s disaster management agency. On the Tibet side of the border, China reported 21 deaths and 541 missing individuals as of late Wednesday. Local authorities indicated that approximately 900 workers are missing from 12 hydropower projects across Nepal, with about 500 potentially trapped in tunnels.