Nepal says survivors may still be trapped inside flooded hydropower plants

A week after devastating flash floods hit Nepal, officials still believe survivors may be trapped inside underground areas of damaged hydropower plants.

Amshu Kiran Shahi, a director at the Nepal Electricity Authority, told Reuters that 46 people were believed to be trapped in a room-like structure inside the Rasuwagadhi hydropower plant. He said the presence of food and water led officials to believe they could have survived the past week.

Shahi also said rescuers expected to find survivors at the Upper Trishuli-3A hydropower plant after receiving information that dry areas remained inside. Teams were trying to enter the tunnels, he said.

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We believe they could still be alive even after a week because there is food and water inside.

Nepal is using all available technology in the rescue effort, according to Shahi. India, China and South Korea are providing assistance, while Australian experts have also joined the operation.

The flash floods struck on Aug. 26 near Nepal's border with China's Tibet Autonomous Region. At least 1,130 people have died and 4,462 remain missing. Hydropower plant sites have yielded 279 survivors, but at least 639 people are still unaccounted for there. Nine South Korean workers at the Upper Trishuli-1 construction site, including six Doosan Enerbility employees and three Korea South-East Power employees, also remain missing. The United Nations Development Programme estimates that the floods produced more than 2.2 million tonnes of debris, equivalent to six Empire State Buildings.

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We are using all the technology currently available in Nepal.