Nepal flood death toll crosses 900 as hundreds stuck in hydropower tunnels

Rescuers are racing against time to reach hundreds of workers believed to be trapped in tunnels at hydropower sites inundated by catastrophic flooding in Nepal and China. The death toll from the floods has risen to over 900, with more than 4,700 people still missing. In Nepal, the Independent Power Producers’ Association (IPPAN) estimates that at least 500 of the 900 missing workers may be trapped in the tunnels, though this figure varies.

Authorities report that some workers managed to contact rescuers and inform them that their colleagues remain inside the tunnels. Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, Nepal’s army spokesman, stated that search and rescue operations are ongoing in hills, settlements, and river areas. Chinese authorities have reported 16 deaths and 546 missing, with 261 of the missing being foreigners, including over a hundred Nepalis.

The Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in Rasuwa district has 576 people missing, with approximately 300 believed to be trapped in the project’s tunnel. Rescue efforts involve extracting oxygen to those inside and attempting to reach them through 15-meter-deep tunnels. On the Chinese side, workers are repairing a road leading to Gyirong Port at the border between China and Nepal, as the area is submerged under 2 to 3 meters of water. Despite rescue teams reaching the border, the task remains challenging due to the ongoing flooding.