Nepal death toll crosses 1,000 as rescuers race to find workers trapped in mud-filled tunnels

The death toll in Nepal has surpassed 1,000 following devastating floods that border Tibet, according to the country's disaster agency. Over 3,900 people remain missing, with more than 600 believed to be trapped in a network of tunnels filled with mud at hydropower sites along the Trishuli River. Engineers have been pumping air into the tunnels, but a team that managed to enter one found no one inside.

Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah announced that 279 people have been rescued from the affected sites. The rescue effort is being led by an international team, including Chinese and Nepalese military personnel, along with experts from India, Korea, and Australia. Family members of those trapped express a mix of hope and frustration, as the rescue operation has been described as slow and frustrating.

Nepalese leader Shah highlighted the increasing risks in the Himalayan region due to climate change and called for stronger international action to address the issue.