Two Workers Rescued After Nine Days Trapped in Nepal Flood Tunnel
Rescuers in Nepal have successfully pulled two workers alive from a flooded tunnel at the Trishuli 3A hydroelectric power station, nine days after a catastrophic flood. The men were found at a depth of approximately 170 meters and have been hospitalized in Kathmandu in stable condition. One of the rescued individuals reported that other people remain alive inside the tunnel.
On the morning of September 4, rescuers heard voices emanating from the tunnel, leading to the discovery of the first worker, followed by the second. Authorities are hopeful of reaching other trapped individuals. A total of 557 workers are unaccounted for at the Trishuli 3A site, with an estimated 115 believed to have been inside the tunnels. Across Nepal's 12 hydropower facilities, approximately 900 workers are missing following the floods, with around 500 potentially still trapped underground. Over 270 people have been rescued from these sites to date. The most challenging rescue operations are occurring in tunnels where entrances are blocked by thick mud, boulders, and debris.
The overall death toll in Nepal has reached 1,259, with over 5,000 reported missing, according to the national emergency management authority via AP. In China, 21 deaths and 541 disappearances have been reported, including 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries. Chinese authorities have faced criticism from relatives of the missing for a perceived lack of information, with families resorting to social media and foreign embassies for updates. Human rights organizations allege that Chinese authorities are restricting information flow regarding the disaster's aftermath.
The disaster, which occurred on August 26, was triggered by the collapse of an ice and rock mass near the Nepal-China border in Tibet. A massive surge of water, mud, and rocks devastated communities, roads, bridges, and energy infrastructure along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river valleys.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuing its efforts to locate two Israeli citizens missing since the disaster: Ron Cohen, 60, last seen near Tibet, and Katerina Sakovich, 41, who holds both Israeli and Belarusian citizenship. As of the morning of September 4, no new confirmed information regarding their fate had been received.
