Nepal officials report that rescue teams are focusing on reaching workers trapped underground at hydropower projects affected by severe flash floods. More than 900 workers are believed to be trapped in tunnels blocked by mud and rock debris following a glacier collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border on August 30, which has resulted in 903 confirmed deaths and 4,247 individuals reported missing in Nepal, according to the country's disaster authority.
The floods have also impacted China's Tibet region, where at least 16 fatalities and 546 missing persons have been reported by Chinese authorities. Rescue teams in Nepal, supported by experts from China and India, are using earth-moving equipment to clear debris in the affected areas. Nepal army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet stated, "A large amount of debris has been deposited and that is posing us a big challenge to open the tunnels. Our main focus is on opening the tunnels."
As recovery efforts continue, many bodies have been buried in shallow graves due to decomposition in the humid conditions. Hospitals in Kathmandu are experiencing overcrowding in morgues, leading families to search for missing relatives in other facilities. In addition to the 933 missing hydropower workers, approximately 500 workers from the Truck and Container Association are also unaccounted for.
The Red Cross estimates that over 90,000 individuals may have been affected by the disaster, which has been linked to climate change by Chinese authorities. Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the flood as an "unprecedented and devastating natural disaster," emphasizing the difficulties in assessing the full extent of the damage. He noted that nearly 21,000 security personnel are involved in the rescue operations, alongside civilian workers and volunteers.
While many roads and highways have regained accessibility, nearly 40 kilometers of roads have been completely destroyed. The Chinese government has mobilized over 2,100 rescue workers and allocated at least 220 million yuan (approximately $33 million) for relief efforts, including airdropping equipment and supplies to frontline rescuers. President Xi Jinping has called for intensified rescue efforts, as 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries remain unaccounted for in Tibet.
Nepal has accepted assistance from India and China for their expertise in tunnel rescue, despite stating that it does not require general foreign aid. Rescue operations have faced interruptions due to adverse weather and concerns regarding a lake formed by the disaster that could lead to further flooding. However, with improved weather conditions on Monday, rescue efforts have resumed with increased momentum, according to Narendra Pariyar, the district administrator of Rasuwa, one of the districts heavily affected by the floods.