Fresh air found in Nepal hydropower tunnels holds hope for 900 trapped workers
Nepali authorities found fresh air in hydropower tunnels, suggesting 900 trapped workers may have survived a glacier collapse.
Nepali rescue teams discovered fresh air inside hydropower tunnels flooded by a glacier collapse on August 26. The discovery offers hope that trapped workers may still be alive.
A glacier on the Nepal-China border collapsed into a river on August 26, flooding at least eleven hydropower projects and trapping an estimated 900 people underground. Melbourne geologist Arnold Dix, invited to help rescue teams at the Chilime hydropower project, called the fresh air discovery a major breakthrough.
Water and mud had filled the tunnels before. People trapped in darkness have survived with only water for more than two weeks.
In recent days, rescue teams pulled four people from tunnels, including a Chinese national and two hydropower workers.
- 900 people
- Trapped in hydropower tunnels
- 1,399
- Confirmed dead in region
- 5,400+
- Missing in Nepal and Tibet
- over 2 weeks
- Days trapped with only water
Why it mattersThe discovery suggests survival is possible where 1,399 people are confirmed dead and more than 5,400 are missing across Nepal and Tibet.
