{
  "id": 4643354,
  "title": "Nepal floods expose risks to hydropower in a warming Himalayas",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-floods-expose-risks-to-hydropower-in-a-warming-himalayas-4643354",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T11:53:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Associated Press",
    "slug": "associated-press",
    "url": "https://apnews.com/article/nepal-floods-hydro-dams-climate-change-021880ee5a7ac49ac376c6b3378ff97e"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nepal's devastating floods have exposed the risks to hydropower infrastructure in a warming Himalayas, leaving up to 900 workers missing and hundreds still trapped in the tunnels. As workers cleared debris from a flood-ravaged power station in central Nepal, hoping to revive a key node supplying electricity to over 20,000 people, they faced the grim reality that the plant may not simply be rebuilt in the same location, beside the river that destroyed it.\n\nThe loss of hydropower infrastructure has taken an estimated 700 megawatts offline – about 10% of Nepal's power capacity. In Nepal and China combined, over 900 people have died and 4,700 are missing. Authorities now face the daunting task of quickly restoring power, roads, bridges, schools, and health facilities without repeating the same vulnerabilities.\n\nGeoscientist Jakob Steiner, currently based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, emphasizes that rebuilding must prioritize resilience rather than mere replacement. Many of the affected hydropower projects – operating or under construction – were either fully or partially destroyed in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading, among the worst-hit districts. Officials report that tunnels, originally built for access to hydropower infrastructure and water diversion, have become traps for hundreds of stranded workers awaiting rescue.",
  "summary": "DHADING, Nepal (AP) — Workers shoveled thick mud from a flood-ravaged power station in central Nepal, trying to revive a key node that supplies electricity…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Nepal floods expose risks to hydropower in a warming Himalayas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-floods-expose-risks-to-hydropower-in-a-warming-himalayas",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:28:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Nepal floods: A major test for PM Balen's government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-floods-a-major-test-for-pm-balens-government",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mothership",
        "title": "MP Alex Yam calls out 'racist' & 'heartless' comments about nationality of 9 S'poreans missing in Nepal floods",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/mp-alex-yam-calls-out-racist-heartless-comments-about-nationality-of",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:36:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Nepal floods: Why rescue operations in hydropower tunnels are so challenging",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-floods-why-rescue-operations-in-hydropower-tunnels-are-so",
        "published": "2026-08-31T11:56:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Nepal races to find its missing as flood area remains largely inaccessible",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/nepal-races-to-find-its-missing-as-flood-area-remains-largely",
        "published": "2026-08-31T12:41:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "New details on Americans missing in Nepal after devastating floods",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/new-details-on-americans-missing-in-nepal-after-devastating-floods",
        "published": "2026-08-31T13:12:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "9 Koreans rescued from Nepal floods return home",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/9-koreans-rescued-from-nepal-floods-return-home",
        "published": "2026-08-31T13:47:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}