Two more people have been rescued alive in Nepal, nearly 10 days after devastating floods and landslides swept through parts of the country, offering a rare moment of hope as emergency teams continue searching through vast areas of destruction.
The latest rescues involved a Chinese national found inside a hydropower tunnel and a Nepali woman who was discovered alive in a mud-covered building in Nuwakot district. The Chinese survivor was located about 225 metres inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, where rescue teams had been working through dangerous and difficult conditions. His health was being assessed after he was brought to safety.
The woman was found trapped on an upper floor of a four-storey building, according to Nepalese authorities. Her survival after so many days underscores the unpredictable nature of disaster rescue operations, where people can remain alive in isolated spaces even after large-scale destruction has occurred.
The rescues come as Nepal continues to deal with the devastating consequences of floods and landslides that struck on August 26. The disaster followed an ice-and-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, sending enormous amounts of water, mud and debris downstream and damaging communities, roads, bridges and major infrastructure.
The human toll has been severe. Authorities have reported more than 1,300 deaths, while thousands of people have been reported missing as search operations continue across affected districts. Hydropower facilities along the Trishuli River have become a major focus of rescue efforts because hundreds of workers were believed to have been inside tunnels when the disaster struck.
Rescue teams have faced major obstacles, including unstable structures, thick mud, damaged roads and debris-filled tunnels. Nepalese security forces have worked alongside international rescue teams as authorities attempt to reach areas that remain difficult to access.
The discovery of survivors after such a long period has also renewed attention on people who remain unaccounted for. While officials and rescuers continue to search, experts caution that the likelihood of finding additional survivors generally decreases as time passes. Nevertheless, each successful rescue strengthens the determination of teams still working in hazardous conditions.
For families waiting for news about missing relatives, the latest developments provide a measure of encouragement amid overwhelming loss. The rescues also demonstrate the importance of sustained search-and-rescue operations, specialised equipment and cooperation between Nepal and international partners.
As recovery efforts continue, authorities face the difficult task of locating missing people, identifying victims, restoring damaged infrastructure and providing assistance to communities that have lost homes and livelihoods.
The survival of two people after nearly 10 days will therefore stand as one of the most hopeful moments in Nepal’s unfolding disaster a reminder that even amid widespread devastation, rescue efforts can still bring unexpected signs of life.