Nepal tunnel rescuers hunt for survivors with rafts and drone

Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Nepal a week after devastating flash floods caused by a glacial collapse killed over 1,100 people and left nearly 4,000 missing. The disaster, which also affected China's Tibet region, has generated an estimated 2.2 million tonnes of debris. The floods damaged 11 operational hydropower stations and one solar plant, as well as 15 power projects under construction. Specialized equipment and foreign experts from South Korea, China, and India are being deployed to aid in the search for approximately 600 workers, some of whom may be trapped in tunnels. Over 270 workers have already been rescued from tunnel sites.

Following devastating floods and mudslides in August, rescue workers in Nepal are utilizing ziplines and cable cars to transport stranded citizens across rivers, as many local bridges were destroyed. These efforts are occurring in areas like Nuwakot and the Trishuli River Valley, as Nepal and neighboring China grapple with the aftermath of the disaster. The floods, originating from Tibet's Gyirong Valley, have resulted in at least 1,114 confirmed deaths and nearly 4,000 missing in Nepal, with additional casualties reported in China. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, including efforts to find potential survivors trapped in a hydropower tunnel in the Rasuwa district. Approximately 75 Americans remain unaccounted for in Nepal, though no American casualties have been reported.

Deadly floods in Nepal have devastated a village, leaving behind "nothing but mud and silt." BBC South Asia correspondent Azadeh Moshiri reported on ongoing rescue efforts in the affected area. During her reporting, she spoke with a local resident who is still awaiting the retrieval of his wife's body. The article focuses on the human impact of the disaster and the continued search for victims.

Nepal's Tourism Minister, Khadak Raj Paudel, has urged international travelers to continue visiting the country despite recent catastrophic floods. In a video message, he declared Nepal open for tourism, emphasizing that the mountain trails and trekking routes are ready for visitors. The minister stated that tourism at this time would provide significant support to Nepal as it recovers from the tragedy, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands missing. This plea aims to counter the negative impact of images and reports of destruction on tourism, even in areas unaffected by the floods.

Nepalese hydropower workers described a terrifying experience where the Trishuli River's water surged into their tunnel during recent flash floods. Pemba Dundu Tamang recounted a sudden blast of air preceding the water, which chased him and his team for approximately 20 minutes as they worked on the tunnel's concrete lining. The floods have resulted in over 1,000 deaths in Nepal, with around 4,000 people missing, including potentially hundreds of hydropower laborers. Rescue operations are underway, with soldiers pumping air into tunnels and working to recover bodies and prevent disease outbreaks.

Rescue efforts are underway in Nepal to find hundreds of workers feared trapped in hydropower tunnels following severe flooding. Approximately 500 workers are believed to be inside tunnels at damaged hydropower projects, with access severely hindered by debris, mud, and collapsed infrastructure. Remote locations, difficult terrain, and damaged roads further complicate rescue operations. Rescuers are facing tunnels filled with mud and rocks, making it challenging to locate and reach any survivors. Experts highlight that Nepal's rescue capacity is being tested, with a lack of heavy equipment and adequately trained personnel for such complex tunnel rescues. The flooding has already caused over 1,000 deaths across Nepal and China.

Nepal-Tibet floods have claimed over 1,000 lives and left thousands missing, prompting police to request DNA samples from relatives of missing tourists for identification. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with a focus on extracting hundreds of workers trapped in devastated hydropower stations. Prime Minister Balendra Shah reported over 11,000 people rescued and some restoration of power and communication lines. The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse, highlights the growing risks faced by the Himalayan region due to climate change. Foreign nationals, including tourists and pilgrims, are among the missing.

On August 26, a glacier collapse in the Nepalese Himalayas triggered a massive mudslide that traveled over 5,000 meters down a valley. Within seven minutes, the high-speed flow reached Gyirong Port on the Chinese side, burying border facilities and leaving hundreds of travelers missing. In Nepal, entire villages were destroyed, resulting in hundreds of deaths and thousands unaccounted for. This event highlights a growing climate change crisis beyond rising sea levels, impacting mountainous regions and their populations.

Hundreds of workers are trapped in hydropower site tunnels buried by mud following catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border. Experts emphasize that survival hinges on access to oxygen, food, and clean water, with the first 72 hours being critical. The presence of emergency protocols and the ability to deliver supplies are key factors, as demonstrated by a past tunnel collapse where trapped workers were sustained for 17 days. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but concerns about suffocation are growing six days after the floods. The mental toll of isolation and the tunnel's climate also impact survival chances.

Rescue efforts are underway in Nepal to reach hundreds feared trapped in hydropower project tunnels following devastating flash floods. The disaster, caused by an unprecedented deluge of ice, rock, mud, and debris, has resulted in over 900 deaths in Nepal and 16 in Tibet, with thousands more missing across both regions. A large-scale operation involving nearly 21,000 security personnel and volunteers is working to locate survivors. The Red Cross estimates over 90,000 people have been affected, with some linking the disaster to climate change. Separately, Iran launched retaliatory strikes on airbases in Jordan and the UAE after US attacks on Iranian rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Nepal is racing to rescue over 900 workers trapped in hydropower project tunnels following devastating flash floods caused by a glacier collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border. The disaster has claimed 903 lives in Nepal and left 4,247 missing, with at least 16 dead and 546 missing in China's Tibet region. Rescuers, supported by Chinese and Indian experts, are facing significant challenges clearing mud and debris from the blocked tunnels. Hundreds of bodies have been buried, and morgues are at capacity. The Red Cross estimates over 90,000 people have been affected. China is providing significant aid and expertise to Nepal's relief efforts.

Recent catastrophic floods in Nepal have devastated hydropower projects, leaving up to 900 workers unaccounted for and taking approximately 10% of the country's power capacity offline. The disaster highlights the vulnerability of Himalayan infrastructure to climate change, as warming temperatures increase risks of floods and landslides. Experts emphasize the need for rebuilding efforts to focus on resilience and service continuity rather than simply replacing destroyed structures. This includes considering safer locations for new projects, implementing better early warning systems, and diversifying energy sources. The floods underscore the growing threat of climate-driven disasters to Nepal's infrastructure, which is estimated to be exposed to $124 billion worth of risk.

Following devastating flash floods in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot regions, over 4,700 people remain missing, with authorities overwhelmed by recovered bodies. The disaster, triggered by an ice-and-rock collapse in the Himalayas, highlights critical gaps in Nepal's disaster preparedness. The country urgently requires investment in early warning systems for glacial and flood hazards, including real-time monitoring of unstable glaciers and lakes, and improved communication channels. Establishing clear evacuation triggers, safe shelters, and multiple warning systems is crucial, especially with the threat of a secondary flood from a newly formed lake. Nepal also needs climate-resilient infrastructure and locally led adaptation strategies. Wealthy, high-emitting nations are urged to provide immediate, grant-based financial assistance through mechanisms like the Loss and Damage Fund for recovery and future resilience, emphasizing climate justice for vulnerable nations like Nepal.

Catastrophic flash floods in Nepal and Tibet have resulted in at least 903 deaths and over 4,000 missing people. The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse in the Himalayas, caused avalanches of ice and rock that surged into rivers, engulfing villages, destroying infrastructure, and trapping survivors. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with many areas remaining inaccessible due to severe damage. This event serves as a stark warning about increasing climate risks in the region and globally, as warming temperatures and melting glaciers are expected to lead to more frequent extreme weather events. The article also briefly mentions other news items, including changes to the UK's early release scheme for prisoners, the deportation of Milo Yiannopoulos from the US, retaliatory strikes between Iran and the US, and Iceland's rejection of EU accession talks.

A Tibetan advocacy group claims China is concealing the true scale of a recent deadly flood disaster that occurred along the Nepal-Tibet border. The group alleges that approximately 300 homes were destroyed on the Tibetan side and that the number of missing people is significantly higher than official Chinese figures. Public discussion about the floods in Tibet has been restricted, with authorities penalizing at least 10 individuals for sharing "false disaster information." While Chinese authorities report 16 deaths and 546 missing, the advocacy group's sources suggest a much higher casualty count. Independent verification is difficult due to severe restrictions on foreign journalists and potential imprisonment for Tibetans sharing information with outside groups.

Nepali army rescuers are drilling into tunnels at hydropower facilities in an effort to reach workers believed to be trapped following flash floods and a mudslide. The disaster, triggered by a glacier collapse near the Tibet border, has killed at least 750 people and left over 3,000 missing. Rescue efforts at the Trishuli 3A and 3B sites have been hampered by rain and rising river waters, but efforts resumed on Sunday. Nepal's government has requested specialist assistance from India and China to aid in the rescue operations. The floods have caused widespread destruction, impacting homes and livelihoods, with estimated losses exceeding $4 billion. International aid has begun arriving to support relief efforts.

A devastating glacial collapse on Wednesday caused flash floods in Nepal and Tibet, resulting in over 768 confirmed deaths and 3,048 people missing, including hundreds of foreigners. Rescuers are battling challenging conditions and the threat of further flooding to search for survivors. In Nepal, authorities are beginning the process of burying bodies after collecting DNA samples, while China has reported 16 deaths and 546 missing. A critical rescue effort is underway to reach over 100 workers trapped in a tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric site. Nepal's foreign minister highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on the nation.

In Nepal's Chitwan district, devastating flash floods and mudslides have resulted in the temporary mass burial of approximately 100 unidentified bodies due to the overwhelming number of victims, estimated at 250 awaiting identification. The bodies, carried downstream by the Bhotekoshi River, were recovered in Chitwan after the disaster killed at least 800 people and left over 3,000 missing across Nepal and Tibet. Authorities are preserving DNA samples and identifying features to allow families to claim bodies later, but the rapid decomposition due to heat and humidity, coupled with limited forensic and morgue capacity, necessitated the temporary burials. This practice has drawn criticism from some residents and public figures who feel Hindu funeral traditions are being disregarded and that the burials are premature. Officials maintain these are temporary measures in line with disaster management protocols, allowing for future exhumation.

The death toll from Nepal floods has risen to at least 810, according to Nepali and Chinese authorities. In Western Australia, One Nation's Barnaby Joyce described the party's victory in the Secret Harbour state byelection as "humbling" and "decisive." Joyce stated that the party would not become complacent following the win, emphasizing the importance of respecting the opportunity given by voters. He also suggested that the Labor party is missing a key element in Western Australia, referencing the appeal of a small businessperson as a relatable candidate. The article also mentions Oscar Jenkins giving his first interview since a conviction in Russia, though details are not provided.

A vital highway in Nepal has collapsed four days after a catastrophic glacial outburst. The floods preceding the collapse had weakened the road. This event highlights the ongoing impact of the natural disaster on critical infrastructure. The collapse of the highway will likely impede transportation and relief efforts in the region.