Nepal is prioritizing the rescue of over 100 hydropower workers believed to be trapped in multiple tunnels following flash floods triggered by a glacier collapse. The disaster, which also impacted China, has led to a combined death toll of 908, with over 3,000 people still missing. Key rescue efforts are focused on the Trishuli 3A and 3B hydropower projects, where army teams have drilled into mud-filled tunnels, pumped in air, and lowered cameras.
Rescue operations, now in their fifth day, have been hampered by rain and rising river waters. Authorities have used heavy equipment, including drilling machines, excavators, hydraulic cutters, and even explosives, to try and reach the trapped workers. While air has been pumped into the Trishuli 3A tunnel and a camera deployed, no response has been received from inside after rescuers called out.
The floods have caused significant damage to Nepal's energy infrastructure, with 11 hydropower stations and one solar power station, representing about 10% of the nation's installed generating capacity, ceasing operation. An additional 15 power projects under construction were also damaged. Nepal's finance minister estimates the country will need approximately $4 billion to $5 billion for rebuilding efforts. International aid has started to arrive, with the US and Canada each pledging $3.6 million, the UK offering $6.8 million, and the UN releasing $2.5 million in emergency funding.
