Nepal-China: Hundreds Trapped in Hydropower Tunnels After Flash Flood

• Hundreds of workers are feared trapped in hydropower tunnels following catastrophic flooding on the Nepal-China border.
• The combined death toll in Nepal and China has surpassed 950, with over 4,400 people reported missing.
• Rescue efforts are concentrated on 12 damaged hydropower projects in Nepal, where approximately 500 workers are believed to be stuck in large tunnels.
• Fears are mounting that trapped individuals may have suffocated, as the disaster occurred six days prior.
• Infrastructure, including a vital border crossing road and power stations, has been severely impacted, complicating rescue and recovery operations.

As the disaster entered its sixth day, fears intensified that many of those trapped might have already suffocated, highlighting the critical race against time for rescuers.

A devastating flash flood on the Nepal-China border has led to a desperate race against time, with hundreds of workers feared trapped inside hydropower tunnels. Six days after the disaster struck last Wednesday, rescuers are intensifying efforts to locate and free individuals believed to be entombed by mud and debris. The combined death toll across both nations has tragically surpassed 950, while more than 4,400 people remain missing.

In Nepal alone, a private sector association representing power companies reported that at least 900 workers are unaccounted for across 12 hydropower projects severely damaged in the Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Approximately 500 of these individuals are thought to be confined within the vast tunnel systems. Initial calls for assistance were made by some workers immediately after the flood, and others who managed to escape informed authorities that many colleagues were still inside, according to Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN). However, contact with those trapped has since been lost, fueling growing concerns about their survival.

Rescue operations are primarily focused on accessing the gigantic tunnels constructed to regulate water flow for the hydropower facilities. Jakob Steiner, a geoscientist from the University of Graz based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, noted that these tunnels are expansive, "big enough to drive trucks through," suggesting some potential for air pockets. While there is a possibility that some trapped workers might have access to oxygen, experts warn that the chances of finding survivors are rapidly diminishing due to the lack of food and water.

At the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project in the hard-hit Rasuwa district, 576 individuals are reported missing, with around 300 believed to be trapped within its tunnel system. Concurrently, at the Trishuli-3 Hydropower Project, crews are working to descend about 15 meters (50 feet) into a tunnel in a bid to reach those thought to be inside, as confirmed by Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, Nepal’s army spokesman. The ongoing efforts underscore a critical race against time as conditions for survival worsen.

The catastrophic flooding has left a trail of widespread destruction, impacting vital infrastructure and claiming numerous lives across the Nepal-China border region. Nepal's disaster agency reported 939 deaths and 3,925 missing in the country, a figure that includes 592 foreign nationals. On the Chinese side, authorities had confirmed 16 fatalities and 546 missing persons as of Sunday, with Chinese state media indicating that 261 of the missing were foreigners, including over 100 Nepalis.

Beyond the immediate human toll, the disaster has crippled essential services. A power station in Dhading, crucial for supplying electricity to more than 20,000 people, was inundated with mud. On the Chinese side, recovery efforts include rebuilding the road leading to the Gyirong Port border crossing, a key artery for travel between China and Nepal. This road is currently submerged under 2 to 3 meters (6.6 to 9.8 feet) of water, with repaving attempts underway just over a kilometer (0.62 miles) from the border. Chinese state media coverage has largely highlighted the official response, focusing on the deployment of firefighters and the People's Liberation Army, and directives from top leaders, with less information provided regarding Chinese victims.

As the disaster entered its sixth day, fears intensified that many of those trapped might have already suffocated, highlighting the critical race against time for rescuers. The growing desperation is palpable among families of the missing. Maraval Nagappan, for instance, traveled to Nepal two days after the disaster, embarking on a harrowing search for his son, who is among the unaccounted. His journey included visiting rescue centers and morgues, reflecting the agonizing efforts of many to find their loved ones amidst the overwhelming scale of the tragedy. The diminishing prospects of finding survivors underscore the profound human cost of the catastrophic floods.

Source: Original reporting via Associated Press