Adithi Ramakrishnan, Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — For those stranded by a flood, survival depends on many factors including access to oxygen, food, and water.
Catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border has killed hundreds and left thousands more missing. On Monday, rescuers in Nepal worked to free hundreds of workers thought to be trapped in hydropower site tunnels that were buried in mud.
Experts indicate that the first 72 hours are critical as the chances of survival drop without access to clean water. One important aspect is whether the tunnels had emergency protocols in case of an outage or natural disaster, said disaster epidemiologist Jennifer Horney with the University of Delaware.
If such protocols exist, workers could have been trained on the location of exits. However, the force of the flooding may have caked mud over these exits, complicating rescue efforts, Horney noted.
Access to clean drinking water is essential, and it remains unclear whether any emergency supplies were stocked in the tunnels. "There just really wouldn't be a way to go much further than the three days without safe, drinkable water," Horney stated.
Access to breathable air is another key factor. At least one expert suggested that some workers may have access to oxygen, but as six days pass since the floods, concerns about suffocation increase. "These tunnels are big enough to drive trucks through," said Jakob Steiner, a geoscientist at the University of Graz in Austria. "From what we understand, they have managed to get oxygen to some of those stuck inside and are trying to rescue them now. It's a race for time, though, as people need food and water."
The mental effects of isolation can also be significant. Other important considerations include whether there are indications of serious injuries and whether there is a safe way to deliver water and essential supplies during rescue operations, according to Thomas Chandler, director of Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness.
He referenced a tunnel collapse in the Himalayas from 2023 caused by a landslide, where 41 Indian workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days. They were provided food, water, and oxygen through pipes.
The climate inside the tunnels may also impact survival. If conditions are hot and humid, individuals could become dehydrated more quickly. Those who are rescued may be very weak, making supportive care important for both physical and mental recovery, according to disaster experts.
Associated Press journalists Shristi Kafle in Kathmandu and Huizhong Wu in Bangkok contributed to this report.