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Live: Rescuers in Nepal Race to Reach Workers Trapped in Hydropower Tunnels
🇦🇺 Australia /Disasters & Emergencies

Live: Rescuers in Nepal Race to Reach Workers Trapped in Hydropower Tunnels

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • Nepal has deployed about 10,000 troops and specialist teams from China and India to reach people trapped in tunnels at hydropower projects hit by flash floods.
  • Nepal reported at least 794 deaths and more than 2,500 missing people, while Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing in Gyirong County.
  • Australia announced an additional $3 million in humanitarian aid, bringing its support for the disaster to $8 million, while 43 Australians remained unaccounted for.

Rescuers in Nepal are racing to clear tunnels at hydropower projects inundated by flash floods, with as many as 350 people believed to be trapped at the Upper Trishuli complex.

We’re working very hard and the support that the Chinese government sent yesterday and today will be very helpful to open up the entrance of the tunnel, because there are many people who have been trapped there.

— Mahabir PunNepal’s science minister described international support for clearing blocked hydropower tunnels.

About 10,000 Nepali troops are working with specialist teams from China and India. Nepal’s military has airlifted heavy machinery to the remote site, and rescuers reached the entrance of one tunnel and began removing debris. Teams carrying oxygen supplies and cameras will enter once access is secured.

Nepal’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahabir Pun, said several hydropower stations under construction had been blocked. “We’re working very hard and the support that the Chinese government sent yesterday and today will be very helpful to open up the entrance of the tunnel, because there are many people who have been trapped there,” he said.

There’s a desperate need for these kits for people in the region and also solar lights.

— Matt ThistlewaiteAustralia’s assistant foreign minister explained the focus of the country’s additional humanitarian aid.

The wider disaster has killed at least 794 people and left more than 2,500 missing in Nepal, according to figures released by Nepal Police. On the Chinese side of the disaster zone, authorities in Gyirong County reported 16 deaths and 546 missing people.

Obviously all of the power and telecommunications infrastructure has been wiped out.

— Matt ThistlewaiteThistlewaite described conditions in the disaster-affected region.

Nepal has asked for international help with specialised work, including tunnel rescue operations, DNA testing, refrigerated storage for bodies and forensic identification of decomposed remains. Australia announced another $3 million in aid, mainly for hygiene kits and solar lights, taking its total humanitarian support to $8 million. The number of Australians unaccounted for rose to 43, although Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlewaite said officials had not given up hope of finding them safe.

We haven’t given up hope that we can rescue those Australians safe and well.

— Matt ThistlewaiteHe discussed efforts to locate 43 Australians unaccounted for after the floods.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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