Catastrophic flash flooding along the Nepal-China border has pushed combined death tolls past 950, while rescue teams race to reach hundreds of workers trapped inside mud-filled hydropower tunnels, according to reports from the Associated Press and regional outlets.
The disaster, which struck last Wednesday, has left thousands missing across both countries. Nepal’s disaster agency reported 903 deaths on Monday, with 4,247 people—including 592 foreigners—still unaccounted for. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities reported 16 deaths and 546 missing as of Sunday, with state media indicating that 261 of the missing are foreign nationals, including more than 100 Nepalis.
Hydropower Tunnel Rescues in Rasuwa and Nuwakot
Rescue efforts are heavily concentrated on 12 damaged hydropower projects in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN), stated that at least 900 workers are unaccounted for across these sites, with an estimated 500 trapped inside colossal water-diversion tunnels.
“The tunnels are built to access hydropower infrastructure and to divert water—an essential step to generate energy,” said Jakob Steiner, a geoscientist at the University of Graz in Austria, noting that the structures are wide enough to drive trucks through. “There is enough place for people to take refuge safely inside and from what we understand they have managed to get oxygen to some of those stuck inside and are trying to rescue them now. It’s a race for time though as people need food and water.”
In the hard-hit Rasuwa district, the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project accounts for 576 missing individuals, with approximately 300 believed to be inside the project’s tunnel, according to IPPAN data. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet.
Border Access and Infrastructure Damage in China
On the Chinese side of the border, recovery operations face severe logistical hurdles. State broadcaster CCTV reported Monday that crews were working to rebuild the road leading to Gyirong Port, a border crossing between China and Nepal.
Trucks hauled large boulders to repave a section of roadway submerged under 2 to 3 meters (6.6 to 9.8 feet) of water from fast-moving rivers swollen by relentless rain. While some rescue teams have successfully pushed through to the international border, widespread inundation continues to restrict rescue equipment and personnel transit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are missing in the Nepal-China floods?
According to official data released on Monday, more than 4,700 people remain missing across both countries, combining Nepal’s 4,247 missing persons list with China’s reported 546 missing individuals.
Why are workers trapped inside hydropower facilities?
Workers took shelter or were caught inside large underground tunnels designed to control water flow and access hydropower infrastructure when flash floods struck last Wednesday, burying site infrastructure in mud and debris.
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