Hundreds feared stuck in hydropower tunnels as flood deaths surpass 950 in Nepal and China

Live updates

1. 10d ago

   Nepal Flood Death Toll Rises to 1,344 as Rescuers Find Survivors

   The death toll from catastrophic border floods in Nepal and China climbed to 1,344 as rescue teams pulled survivors from hydropower tunnels and ruined buildings days after the disaster. Search crews located two trapped workers nine days after the floods, followed by the rescue of a Chinese man from a tunnel and a 60-year-old woman found alive inside a four-story building. Operations continue across the region as emergency personnel search for approximately 4,900 people who remain missing following the flash floods.

   Why it matters

   The disaster has devastated communities across the Himalayan region, prompting international solidarity vigils as far away as Rochester, New York, where the Bhutanese community gathered to pray for the victims. Emergency operations remain focused on blocked infrastructure and subterranean sites where workers were trapped by mud and debris. The escalating casualty figures underscore the massive scale of destruction along the border.

   What is confirmed

   • The death toll from the floods in Nepal has risen to 1,344.
   • Search teams are continuing to look for around 4,900 people who remain missing.
   • Rescuers pulled two trapped workers from a hydropower tunnel nine days after the floods.
   • Rescue crews found a Chinese man in a hydropower tunnel and a 60-year-old woman alive in a four-story building 10 days after the flash floods.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Hundreds of people remain stuck specifically in hydropower tunnels.

   What to watch next

   • Further updates from rescue teams working at the Chilime Tunnel
   • Official announcements regarding the roughly 4,900 missing individuals
   • Assessments from foreign and domestic rescue units deployed to the disaster zone
   Sources used for this update (5)

   1. www.heraldbulletin.com — PHOTO ESSAY: Inside a detention center where scam workers wait for their return home
   2. www.whec.com — Rochester’s Bhutanese community holds candlelight vigil in Henrietta for Nepal flood victims
   3. www.latimes.com — Rescuers pull 2 trapped workers from a hydropower tunnel 9 days after Nepal floods
   4. www.cnn.com — Two more people rescued in Nepal 10 days after devastating floods
   5. www.newindianexpress.com — Death toll in Nepal floods rises to 1,344 as rescue efforts continue; Indian team advances at Chilime Tunnel
   confidence 90%
2. 14d ago

   Death Toll Surpasses 950 After Nepal-China Floods; Hundreds Trapped in Tunnels

   Flooding across the Nepal-China border has killed more than 950 people, with thousands still missing. Rescue teams are currently rappelling into hydropower tunnels and blasting hillsides to reach hundreds of workers feared trapped in sites buried by mud. Approximately 80 Americans are among the missing, including pilgrims and residents from several U.S. states. While rescue efforts intensify, the Nepali government faces scrutiny for its reluctance to accept foreign aid. The disaster has highlighted the regional impact of climate change on the Himalayan region.

   Why it matters

   The flooding affected both Nepal and Tibet, causing catastrophic mudslides that buried infrastructure. Many victims were spiritual pilgrims visiting sacred mountains or workers at hydroelectric plants. The scale of the missing population has nearly doubled in recent reports.

   What is confirmed

   • More than 950 people have died due to flooding in Nepal and China.
   • Hundreds of workers are feared trapped in hydropower tunnels buried by mud.
   • More than 4,200 people are reported missing.
   • Rescuers are using rappelling and hillside blasting to search for survivors.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Nepal is hesitant to accept foreign help for flood relief.

   What to watch next

   • Confirmation of survivors recovered from the hydropower tunnels
   • Official updates on the status of missing U.S. citizens
   • Government decisions regarding the acceptance of foreign aid teams
   Sources used for this update (26)

   1. The New York Times — Pilgrims to Flood-Stricken Nepal Sought the Divine at Sacred Mountain
   2. The Washington Post — They went to Nepal for a spiritual journey. Then an epic flood arrived.
   3. CNN — Nepal-China floods latest: Rescuers rappel into hydropower tunnels in race to find survivors
   4. Reuters — Nepal teams seek hundreds trapped in hydropower tunnels after deadly floods
   5. AP News — Rescue efforts intensify after Nepal-Tibet flooding as deaths climb past 900
   6. NBC News — Death toll in Nepal floods tops 900, as number of missing nearly doubles to over 4,200
   7. NPR — Nepal's hesitance to accept foreign help for flood relief under scrutiny
   8. ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — Nepal-Tibet flood death toll surpasses 900, officials say, more than 4,700 missing
   9. Yahoo — Nepal flash floods highlight impact of climate change
   10. BBC — Nepal rescuers blast hillside in search of hydropower workers as families wait anxiously
   11. The Atlantic — Photos: The Aftermath of Nepal’s Flash Floods
   12. AP News — The odds of survival for those trapped after Nepal flood
   confidence 90%