Rescuers in Nepal pulled two hydropower workers out alive on Friday from a flooded tunnel on the Trishuli River, more than nine days after a glacier collapse. The men, identified as mechanical foreman Sanjay Sah and mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan, had been trapped inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station since August 26. Both men were taken to a Kathmandu hospital for treatment, with officials noting that Maharjan is unable to move his hands and legs while Sah’s injuries are less severe.
The disaster has killed more than 1,200 people and displaced tens of thousands across the region. Authorities believe the initial collapse trapped as many as 900 workers inside tunnels linked to about six separate hydropower construction sites along the river. Search teams, including Nepali army units, have been drilling into collapsed sections and wading through mud to find survivors who may have found air pockets. International assistance has arrived from South Korea to support the search.