Nepal rescuers free second tunnel worker as hundreds remain missing

58 sources·Updated Sep 4, 2026

Rescuers in Nepal’s Trishul 3A hydropower tunnel pulled a second worker out alive on Friday, about nine days after Aug. 26 flash floods likely triggered by a glacier collapse. Authorities say roughly 900 workers are missing from multiple hydropower projects, including about 500 believed trapped in tunnels, and rescuers have reported hearing voices from deeper inside the tunnel despite damaged access and poor weather. Nepal’s disaster agencies and leaders said the disaster has destroyed or rendered uninhabitable tens of thousands of homes, with about 20,000 needing rebuilding or relocation to safer areas to reduce repeat risk. The floods killed at least around 1,200 people in Nepal and left thousands displaced and missing; China reported additional fatalities and missing persons on the Tibet side of the border. South Korean and other specialized rescue teams are supporting tunnel searches using drones, thermal imaging, and acoustic equipment.

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Aug 28, 2026Sep 4, 2026

Sep 4, 2026Nepal says about 20,000 homes will need rebuilding or relocation as rescuers free a second tunnel worker, with roughly 1,204 dead and more than 4,200 still missing.
Sep 4, 2026An expert WhatsApp group of over 500 engineers helps guide rescuers through buried tunnels in Nepal's Trishuli Valley using shared blueprints and real-time layouts.
Sep 4, 2026A British national is among 119 people rescued nearly a week after the floods, as thousands remain missing and multinational rescue teams search hydropower tunnels.