Nepal Flood Survivors Trapped in Tunnels as Rescue Efforts Intensify

Rescue teams in Nepal and Tibet are in a race against time to find thousands missing after a catastrophic flood four days ago, triggered by a glacial lake outburst flood. The disaster, occurring on the Nepal-China border, has resulted in over 90,000 affected individuals and an estimated $4-5 billion in reconstruction costs. Rescue operations are hampered by severe weather conditions and rising water levels in rivers and lakes, raising fears of further devastating floods.

The official death toll has climbed to 750, with over 3,000 people still missing on both sides of the border. The Red Cross estimates the total number of affected, including injured and displaced, exceeds 90,000. Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in the Gyeong region, while Nepal's disaster authority stated 734 deaths, 2,498 missing, and 7,514 rescued.

Among the missing are 581 foreign tourists, including over 100 Indians and many from the US, UK, and Australia. One Israeli man, around 60 years old, is also unaccounted for. Rescue efforts are particularly focused on 933 workers believed to be trapped in tunnels of hydroelectric power stations, specifically Trisuli A3 and A4. A breach was made into the A3 tunnel, with oxygen, food, and lighting supplied, and a camera inserted, though no contact has been made yet. Indian experts specializing in "rat-hole mining" for narrow spaces have been dispatched.

Authorities have begun mass burials for hundreds of unidentified bodies that have begun to decompose. DNA samples and identifying marks are being collected in hopes of future identification. The disaster is linked to climate change, with UN climate chief Simon Stiell warning that human-caused pollution makes such tragedies more likely and severe. Nepal, despite contributing less than 0.01% of greenhouse gases, is among the primary victims of climate change.