Over 100 workers trapped as dam tunnel floods in Nepal disaster
Glacier flood traps 100+ workers in Nepal dam tunnel amid 472+ deaths.
Event / Disaster
Nepal-Tibet Glacier Disaster
August 2026 glacier collapse in Nepal and Tibet border region causing massive flooding, deaths, and missing persons, with ongoing rescue operations.
7 reported locations
Daily activity
39 articles0 articles
2026-08-28 to 2026-11-06 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 28 Aug, 00:05 UTC
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What happened
Chinese worker rescued from hydropower tunnel after 10 days in Nepal floods
Lu Haitao, a 49-year-old Chinese worker from Henan province, was rescued from a 225-meter hydropower tunnel in Nepal 10 days after the August 26 floods. Rescuers extracted him by helicopter on Saturday and evacuated him to a hospital where he was in stable condition.
Significant casualties and missing persons on Tibet border from mudslide
On the Tibet side of the Nepal border, 43 people died and 519 were missing as of Saturday evening following a mudslide that struck the Gyirong border facility. Among the missing, 261 were foreigners. The mudslide swallowed people at the border crossing area.
Devastating floods strike Nepal, killing over 1,300 people
On August 26, devastating floods struck Nepal, likely caused by a glacier collapse. The floods killed more than 1,300 people and left nearly 4,900 people missing according to Nepal's disaster management agency.
84,000 people displaced with severe shortages in emergency shelters and sanitation concerns
84,000 displaced persons face extreme hardship and precarity after losing everything in one or two minutes. Emergency camps have inadequate sanitation facilities shared by many occupants. UN officials warn that cholera risks cannot be excluded given poor conditions in temporary shelters.
Nepal records national day of mourning; authorities struggle to identify victims
Nepal observed a national day of mourning on Monday following the disaster. By Sunday, only about 100 victims had been formally identified and their bodies returned to families. Authorities continue facing difficulties in identifying the large number of deceased.
Nepal's reconstruction estimated to cost several billion dollars
Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal assessed the cost of reconstruction at several billion dollars. Power restoration efforts are underway, with authorities hoping to restore electricity within days in all affected districts.
Death toll from Himalayan flood reaches at least 1,385 with over 5,500 missing
Official death toll stands at 1,342 in Nepal and 43 in Tibet (China), with more than 5,500 people missing across both regions. Among the missing are hundreds of foreign tourists and pilgrims, as well as approximately 900 Nepali workers from hydroelectric power plants and dam construction sites.
Glacier collapse and mountain landslide trigger catastrophic flood in Himalayas on August 26
A glacier and mountain slope collapsed on August 26, triggering an enormous wave of glacial water, rocks, and debris that swept through the Himalayan region. The deluge destroyed roads, bridges, homes, and infrastructure across a wide area.
United Nations launches emergency appeal for $50 million in flood relief
UN agencies launched an emergency appeal on Friday to raise approximately 50 million dollars to meet the essential needs of 84,000 displaced persons who lost everything in the disaster. The UN emphasized that time is critical for assistance.
Search and rescue operations continue into 12th day in Nepal and Tibet
Rescue teams continue excavating mud and debris in Nepal and China for the 12th consecutive day. Operations face significant challenges including difficult terrain, poor weather conditions, and communication failures. In Tibet's Gyirong border post, over 2,300 rescue workers and 8,800 pieces of equipment are deployed, focusing on collapsed buildings, dormitories, and parking areas.
Four people rescued from buried tunnels and collapsed structures in Nepal
Three people—two Nepali workers and one Chinese citizen—were extracted alive from buried tunnels at hydroelectric sites on Friday and Saturday. A 60-year-old woman was also rescued from her destroyed home. One rescued worker reported being trapped in a tunnel for nine days with 40-50 other people.
Nepal reports 1,341 deaths and nearly 5,000 missing in Himalayan disaster
Nepal's death toll from the same August 26 disaster reached at least 1,341 confirmed deaths with nearly 5,000 missing persons. Nepali authorities provided daily or multiple daily updates and publicly displayed names of missing persons, including foreign nationals.
Rescue operations continue more than 10 days after Himalayan disaster
Rescue efforts were ongoing more than 10 days after the August 26 event, with survivors still being recovered from the affected Himalayan region.
China restricts foreign journalist access to Tibet
Foreign media journalists cannot freely access Tibet's autonomous region. Access is restricted to organized press trips under official government control, limiting independent reporting on the disaster.
Ice and rock avalanche in Himalayan region kills 43 in Tibet
A mass of ice blocks and rocks detached from the north face of Mount Langtang Lirung on August 26, causing a devastating flood that spread debris into valleys below. Chinese authorities reported 43 deaths and 519 missing persons in the Tibetan region of southwestern China as of Saturday at 6 PM local time.
Three workers rescued alive from Trishuli hydropower project
Three workers have been rescued alive from the Trishuli hydropower project. Two Nepalese workers were rescued on Friday, and a Chinese man was rescued on Saturday from a tunnel at the project.
At least 1,300 killed in Nepal floods with over 5,000 missing
At least 1,300 people were killed in the August 26 floods in Nepal, with more than 5,000 people remaining missing, according to Nepal's disaster management agency.
International rescue teams search Nepal hydropower projects
Specialized rescue teams from India, China, South Korea, and the United States have been searching through debris, damaged structures, and tunnels at hydropower projects in Nepal to find survivors trapped by the floods.
64-year-old woman rescued from damaged house in Nuwakot
A 64-year-old woman was rescued alive from a damaged house in flood-hit Nuwakot town on Saturday. Rescuers found her covered in mud inside the house, gave her bottled water, and airlifted her to Kathmandu for treatment.
Devastating floods hit Nepal triggered by glacier collapse
A devastating flood disaster struck Nepal on August 26, triggered by a glacier and rock collapse. The floods caused widespread destruction across the country, with more than 40 bridges collapsing and rivers swelling unpredictably.
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2 alternative perspectives
Mudslides kill 469 in Nepal, over 1,400 missing across border region
Mudslides kill 469 in Nepal, 1,400+ missing, 100+ trapped in dam tunnel.
Ninety U.S. citizens unaccounted for after Nepal-Tibet border floods
Ninety U.S. citizens unaccounted for in Nepal-Tibet border floods; three rescued.