In Nepal, rescue teams successfully saved a Chinese man and a woman in separate operations on Saturday, a week and a half after severe floods swept through the country. The ongoing search efforts aim to locate the many individuals still missing.
The Chinese man was rescued from a hydropower tunnel, as announced in a social media post by the office of the country’s prime minister. This brings the total number of workers rescued alive from the Trishuli hydropower project to three, following the successful rescue of two Nepalese workers the day before.
The Nepal army reported that a joint rescue operation involving Nepalese military personnel and South Korean disaster experts managed to extract the man from a 225-meter tunnel. The rescued individual is currently undergoing a health evaluation. Photos depict his evacuation by helicopter, with an army medic providing care during the transport.
A photograph released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV captures two rescuers carrying the man out of the tunnel. Additionally, CCTV shared audio of the man expressing his disbelief and gratitude upon being rescued.
The rescued man was taken to a hospital and is reported to be in stable condition by CCTV.
Search and rescue operations have intensified at 12 hydropower projects throughout Nepal, where approximately 900 workers are unaccounted for, with an estimated 500 individuals believed to be trapped inside various tunnels. Teams from India, China, South Korea, and the United States are diligently combing through debris and damaged structures at these sites in hopes of finding more survivors.
In Nuwakot town, a woman was rescued from a house that had been impacted by the floods, as confirmed by Nepal’s army spokesperson. She was swiftly airlifted to Kathmandu for medical attention.
Images released