{
  "id": 5491454,
  "title": "Engineers use WhatsApp to guide Nepal’s flood rescue efforts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/engineers-use-whatsapp-to-guide-nepals-flood-rescue-efforts-5491454",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T03:55:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/04/engineers-use-whatsapp-to-guide-nepal-s-flood-rescue-efforts"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KATHMANDU: A network of engineers has harnessed the power of WhatsApp to coordinate rescue operations in Nepal following a devastating flash flood. The messaging platform has emerged as a vital tool, complementing helicopters and heavy machinery, in the search for survivors trapped within the tunnels of damaged hydropower plants. The flood, triggered by a glacier collapse, swept through the Trishuli valley on August 26, leaving behind a trail of destruction and over 900 people reported missing from six hydropower plants, three of which were under construction. Engineers set up the WhatsApp group shortly after the disaster, providing real-time guidance to rescue teams as they grappled with the altered terrain, compromised tunnel structures, and the accumulation of debris within the tunnels. Government officials and experts within the group exchange crucial information, such as layout drawings of power plants and access tunnels, to aid the rescue efforts. Despite the challenges posed by the flood, including the alteration of tunnel structures and the accumulation of debris, rescue workers persist in their search, aided by the valuable information shared through the WhatsApp group.",
  "summary": "Rescue workers are searching the tunnel networks of ruined hydropower plants, with experts providing real-time guidance over WhatsApp.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "How engineers in a WhatsApp group are guiding Nepal’s flood rescue efforts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/how-engineers-in-a-whatsapp-group-are-guiding-nepals-flood-rescue-5473064",
        "published": "2026-09-04T01:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "How engineers in a WhatsApp group are guiding Nepal's flood rescue efforts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/how-engineers-in-a-whatsapp-group-are-guiding-nepals-flood-rescue",
        "published": "2026-09-04T02:03:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News AU",
        "title": "Australian couple ran up mountain with 3yo daughter to escape Nepal flood",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/australian-couple-ran-up-mountain-with-3yo-daughter-to-escape-nepal",
        "published": "2026-09-04T02:31:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "How engineers in a WhatsApp group are guiding Nepal’s flood rescue efforts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/how-engineers-in-a-whatsapp-group-are-guiding-nepals-flood-rescue-5476733",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:10:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Nepal flood losses estimated at $2.56 billion, official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/nepal-flood-losses-estimated-at-2-56-billion-official-says",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:21:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Nepal flood losses estimated at $2.56 billion, official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/nepal-flood-losses-estimated-at-2-56-billion-official-says-5483695",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:26:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Engineers use WhatsApp to guide Nepal’s flood rescue efforts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/engineers-use-whatsapp-to-guide-nepals-flood-rescue-efforts",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:55:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Two workers rescued from Nepal tunnel 9 days after flash flood",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/two-workers-rescued-from-nepal-tunnel-9-days-after-flash-flood",
        "published": "2026-09-04T04:37:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Engineers in a WhatsApp group guide Nepal’s flood rescue efforts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/engineers-in-a-whatsapp-group-guide-nepals-flood-rescue-efforts",
        "published": "2026-09-04T04:44:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}