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 national rescued from tunnel in Nepal nine days after flooding
Nepalese rescue teams extracted a Chinese national alive from a tunnel in northern Nepal on September 5, nine days after the August 26 flooding. The person had been trapped in the tunnel since the disaster. The extraction was announced by Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet.
Two Nepalese workers rescued from buried tunnel on September 4
Two Nepalese workers were extracted alive from a tunnel buried under mud on September 4, marking the first successful rescues since the August 26 flooding disaster.
Flood death toll reaches 1,280 with 5,624 missing
The provisional death toll from the August 26 flooding stands at 1,280 persons, with 1,259 deaths in Nepal and 21 deaths in Tibet. The number of missing persons is reported at 5,624, with figures increasing as search and rescue operations continue.
Deadly flooding strikes Nepal and Tibet on August 26
A destructive flood occurred in Nepal and the Tibet region of China on August 26, causing widespread damage and casualties across the Himalayan region.
Two workers rescued after nine days trapped in dam construction tunnel
Nepalese workers Sanjay Sah (30 years old) and Kabir Maharjan (45 years old) were successfully extracted on September 4, 2026, from a tunnel at the Trishuli-3 dam construction site after being trapped for nine days following the flood. Sah reported approximately 40-45 workers were in the tunnel when the flood struck.
Rescue operations continue in multiple dam and hydroelectric facility tunnels
As of September 5, 2026, rescue teams continued systematic search and rescue operations in multiple tunnels at dam construction sites and hydroelectric facilities buried by the flood. Nepalese rescue personnel were assisted by expert teams from India, China, and South Korea. Beyond the two rescued workers, teams had only recovered bodies.
China reports 31 deaths and 531 missing from flood in Tibet region
Chinese authorities reported 31 confirmed deaths and 531 missing persons from the August 26 flood in the Tibet-affected region as of September 4, 2026. Chinese authorities maintained strict media access controls to the affected zone and over information sources.
Massive glacier collapse triggers catastrophic flood in Nepal-China border region
An immense wave of water, ice, and debris caused by the collapse of a glacier and rock formation swept across the Nepal-China border on August 26, 2026, causing widespread destruction across a large area.
At least 1,325 confirmed dead and nearly 5,600 missing in Himalayan flood disaster
Official death toll from the August 26 flood reached at least 1,325 confirmed deaths, with nearly 5,600 people reported missing as of September 5, 2026. Among the missing are over 900 workers and employees from Nepalese hydroelectric sites.
UN launches emergency appeal for $50 million in humanitarian aid
On September 4, 2026, the United Nations launched an emergency appeal to raise approximately $50 million to address the essential needs of 84,000 flood victims. UN agencies emphasized time sensitivity, noting that floods had destroyed most resources survivors needed for daily living.
Two workers rescued from Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel nine days after flooding
Rescuers pulled two workers alive from the Trishuli 3A tunnel, a mechanical foreman and mechanical supervisor, nine days after the August 26 floods. Rescuers heard voices from inside the tunnel Friday morning, confirming people were alive. Both rescued workers were in stable condition and were flown to a hospital in Kathmandu.
Tibet reports 21 deaths and 541 missing on border side of Nepal floods
China reported that as of late Wednesday, 21 people were killed and 541 were missing on the Tibet side of the border from the flooding event.
Approximately 900 workers missing from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal
About 900 workers are missing from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, with roughly 500 believed to be trapped in tunnels, according to local authorities.
At least 557 workers missing from Trishuli 3A hydropower project
At least 557 workers are missing from the Trishuli 3A hydropower project along the Trishuli River, with about 115 believed to be trapped in the main tunnel, according to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal.
Glacier collapse triggers catastrophic floods in Nepal on August 26
Floods likely caused by a glacier collapse devastated towns and swept away villages in Nepal on August 26. The disaster resulted in at least 1,259 deaths and more than 5,000 people remain missing according to Nepal's disaster management agency.
Displaced families in Nepal lack basic shelter and supplies after flood
Thousands of people displaced by the flood remained in precarious conditions despite temporary camps established by authorities. Many lived in rented rooms without cooking facilities, and displaced families continued searching hospitals and police stations for information about missing relatives.
Flood destroys infrastructure across northern Nepal valleys
The devastating flood destroyed buildings, bridges, roads, and critical infrastructure across multiple valleys in northern Nepal. Hydroelectric dams, both operational and under construction, were buried under massive quantities of mud and debris.
Two workers rescued alive from tunnel in Nepal nine days after devastating flood
Two workers, identified as Sanjay Shah and Kabir Maharjan, were extracted alive from the Trishuli-3 tunnel in northern Nepal on September 4, nine days after being trapped by a catastrophic flood on August 26. They were evacuated by helicopter to Kathmandu for medical examination.
Over 900 hydroelectric workers remain missing in Nepal after flood
More than 900 employees and workers from hydroelectric sites in service or under construction across Nepal remained missing following the August 26 flood. Authorities estimated approximately 100 workers may be trapped in the Trishuli-3 tunnel alone.
International rescue teams conduct search operations in flooded Nepal tunnels
Rescue teams from Nepal, India, China, and South Korea engaged in ongoing search and rescue operations in tunnels at hydroelectric facilities and dam construction sites. Teams progressed slowly through mud and debris, using explosives and excavators to clear pathways in water-filled tunnels.
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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.