**Rescuers Pull Chinese Worker and Nepali Woman Alive from Flood Wreckage in Nepal**
*Rasuwa District, Nepal – September 5, 2026* – In a remarkable display of resilience and hope, rescuers in Nepal successfully pulled a Chinese hydropower worker and a Nepali woman alive from the wreckage left by devastating floods that have swept through the region. The rescues took place at the Trishuli-3A hydroelectric project in Rasuwa District, where search teams continue to work tirelessly to locate thousands of individuals still unaccounted for.
Lu Haitao, the Chinese national, was rescued from a flooded tunnel approximately 225 meters deep on Saturday. He had been trapped since August 26, when a glacier in the Himalayas collapsed, unleashing a torrent of water, rock, and ice that ravaged the valley. Lu was extracted by a joint team of Nepali soldiers and South Korean disaster specialists. Although he was found in a state of mild hypothermia, he was reported to be stable and was airlifted to a hospital in Kathmandu for treatment.
In a statement to Chinese state television, Lu recounted the harrowing experience of calling out to rescue crews whenever he caught a glimpse of their torchlight in the tunnel. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said, expressing his disbelief when he was finally located.
In a separate operation, 64-year-old Chandika Kumari Shrestha was rescued from her collapsed home in the neighboring Nuwakot District. Covered in mud, she was provided with water by rescuers before being airlifted to Kathmandu for medical attention. Shrestha's rescue came just a day after two Nepali tunnel workers were also pulled alive from a nearby hydropower site, marking a significant development in the ongoing rescue efforts.
The recent rescues have reignited hope for the search teams, who are combing through the wreckage in search of additional survivors. Despite the challenges posed by continued rainfall, which hindered search operations on Saturday, teams remain committed to their mission.
The floods, which have resulted from the glacier collapse, have had catastrophic consequences across the region. According to Nepal's national disaster authority, the disaster has claimed at least 1,331 lives, with approximately 5,000 individuals still missing, including 589 foreign nationals. In Tibet, the autonomous region of China bordering Nepal, officials have reported 31 deaths and 531 people missing.
The scale of the disaster is particularly pronounced at hydropower construction sites, where around 900 workers are unaccounted for, with an estimated 500 believed to be trapped inside tunnels across various projects that have been severely affected by floodwaters. The glacier collapse sent debris crashing into towns and villages that rely on the river valleys for hydroelectric power, resulting in widespread destruction of roads, homes, and schools.
In response to the magnitude of the disaster, search teams from India, China, South Korea, and the United States have joined the rescue operations. Additionally, a 15-member drone unit from Australia was dispatched to assist in the efforts after Nepal requested international support. The rescue operations had initially relied predominantly on local forces, but the influx of international assistance has bolstered the search efforts.
As search teams continue their work, officials are focusing on the Trishuli-3A site, where one of the survivors indicated that additional workers may still be alive further inside the tunnel. Nepal's Information and Communications Minister, Bikram Timilsina, expressed cautious optimism, stating, “We are waiting for the rescue of more and more people,” highlighting the determination of authorities to locate and save those still missing.
The ongoing rescue operations underscore the resilience of the affected communities and the collaborative efforts of both local and international teams in the face of a devastating natural disaster. As the search continues, hopes remain high for the safe recovery of more individuals trapped in the aftermath of the floods.