World News

Hundreds of workers feared trapped in Nepal hydropower tunnels after deadly flash floods

Search and rescue operations continue as the nationwide death toll surpasses 1,000, with thousands still missing following glacier-linked flooding.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 19:31 UTC1 reports

The short version

Deadly flash floods along Nepal's Trishuli River inundated hydropower construction tunnels, leaving hundreds of workers potentially trapped underground.
The overall death toll from the floods has exceeded 1,000 people, while roughly 4,000 others remain missing across the region.
Multinational rescue teams are utilizing heavy machinery, excavators, and air pumps to reach trapped personnel and recover bodies.
Researchers report that pre-disaster satellite imagery indicated glacier instability, raising questions about early warning capabilities.

Flash flooding from the Trishuli River overwhelmed the Upper Trishuli 3B Hydropower Project and other construction sites in Nepal.[BBC News]
Officials report that the nationwide death toll has surpassed 1,000 people, with approximately 4,000 individuals reported missing.[BBC News]
The Nepal Army, alongside specialists from India and China, is deploying excavators, heavy machinery, and air pumping to locate trapped tunnel workers.[BBC News]
A joint assessment by the Asian Mountain Academic Alliance, the Stimson Centre, and China's Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment identified signs of glacier instability prior to the disaster, including faster surface movement and rock fractures.[BBC News]

The exact number of labourers trapped inside the hydropower tunnel networks remains unconfirmed, with estimates suggesting potentially hundreds.[BBC News]
It is unknown how many trapped workers may still be alive as emergency teams work to clear debris and pump air into the tunnels.[BBC News]