Nepal seeks survivors two weeks after deadly floods

KATHMANDU, Nepal - Two weeks after a devastating flood struck the country, Nepali rescuers remain optimistic in their search for survivors trapped within hydropower tunnels. The catastrophic event, caused by a glacial mountain collapse along the China-Nepal border on August 26, resulted in over 1,410 confirmed deaths and 5,651 people still missing as of Wednesday.

Rescue operations at the Trishuli 3A, 3B and Chilime hydropower projects are ongoing, according to Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet. So far, 1,367 bodies have been recovered, and 5,132 people are still unaccounted for, reported by Nepal's disaster authority. In China, the floods claimed 43 lives and left 519 individuals missing, according to state media.

Among the missing are numerous foreigners, as well as a considerable number of hydropower workers. Three individuals were successfully rescued from the depths of the tunnels - two Nepalis on Friday and a Chinese man on Saturday. However, no further survivor confirmations have been officially announced since then. Authorities are urging foreign families of the missing individuals, preferably parents or children, to provide DNA samples to assist in the search efforts.