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Rescuers extract hundreds from flooded hydropower tunnel in Nepal

Emergency crews pulled 350 people from a mud-filled facility following a glacial collapse that left hundreds dead and thousands missing across Nepal and Tibet.

The short version

  • Rescue teams in Nepal's Rasuwa district extracted 350 people from a mud-saturated hydropower plant tunnel after severe flooding and mudslides struck the region.
  • The disaster was likely caused by a glacial collapse in Langtang National Park on August 26 that triggered a massive debris flow along the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi Rivers.
  • Over 500 people are confirmed dead in Nepal and thousands remain unaccounted for, while Chinese authorities report casualties and hundreds missing in neighboring Tibet.
  • Emergency responders are continuing efforts to evacuate more than 100 people still trapped in the facility and relocate flooded downstream communities.

Key facts

  • Nepal's Prime Minister's Office stated that rescue workers extracted 350 people from a hydropower plant tunnel in Rasuwa district and relocated 533 residents from flooded areas.[Fox News]
  • The Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and Nepal Police have confirmed at least 538 deaths in Nepal.[Fox News]
  • Up to 1,924 people are reported unaccounted for on the Nepali side of the border, including around 90 U.S. citizens according to the U.S. State Department.[Fox News]
  • Chinese authorities report five people confirmed dead and 558 missing in Tibet following the deluge.[Fox News]
  • The U.S. Geological Survey stated the flash flood and debris flow traveled nearly 100 kilometers after a glacial collapse in Langtang National Park on August 26, 2026.[Fox News]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact number of casualties and missing persons remains preliminary as search and rescue operations continue in difficult terrain.[Fox News]
  • More than 100 individuals are still reported trapped inside the hydropower facility, with ongoing efforts to reach them.[Fox News]

Sources