Trapped Nepali workers pulled from hydropower tunnel after catastrophic flooding

Trapped Nepali workers were pulled from a hydropower tunnel in northern Nepal after catastrophic flooding triggered by a massive mudslide. Rescue teams worked tirelessly under dire conditions to extract survivors from the submerged tunnel in Rasuwa district, where the disaster struck on August 26, 2026. According to the Nepal Prime Minister's Office, 350 individuals had been successfully evacuated by Friday, while efforts continued to free more than 100 people still inside the tunnel. Another 533 residents had been relocated from flooded areas. The incident occurred following a devastating mudslide that swept through the region, affecting both Nepal and the Chinese province of Tibet. The disaster began with a glacial collapse in Langtang National Park, near the Nepal-China border, which triggered a massive debris flow and subsequent flooding. This event was identified by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as being likely caused by a giant ice rock crashing into the Lhende Khola River after an earthquake. The resulting surge of mud, rock, and crushed ice traveled nearly 100 kilometers, impacting populated areas downstream along the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi rivers, including Gyirong Port in China. Preliminary assessments suggest that numerous buildings and critical infrastructure, such as a key highway linking China and Nepal, have been either buried or destroyed. The death toll in Nepal has risen to at least 538, according to the latest estimates from the Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and the Nepal Police. On the Chinese side of the border, authorities reported five fatalities and 558 missing persons. In addition, more than 1,924 people remain unaccounted for in Nepal, with the Associated Press reporting these figures. Among the missing are approximately 90 American nationals, as noted by the U.S. State Department. President Donald Trump addressed the disaster during a press briefing, describing the situation as unprecedented. He remarked, “That was a brutal... that was mud and water. It’s a mixture that nobody’s ever seen anything quite like that, where very powerful, strong, well-built buildings were wiped out like they were toothpicks.” His comments underscored the severity of the event, which has drawn international attention and concern. The impact of the disaster extended beyond human casualties, with significant damage to infrastructure and local communities. Survivors were transported to safer locations using heavy machinery, including JCBs, as seen in footage from Nuwakot district. The scale of destruction has prompted calls for increased aid and support from both regional and global entities. The Trump administration pledged $150 million in relief funds and deployed Navy warships to assist in recovery efforts, although specific actions taken so far remain unclear. Efforts to understand the full extent of the disaster continue, with ongoing search and rescue operations in both Nepal and Tibet. The complexity of the terrain and the sheer force of the mudslide have made these efforts particularly challenging. As the situation evolves, the focus remains on locating the remaining missing individuals and providing assistance to those affected by the tragedy.