A Chinese national has been rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal, 10 days after devastating floods struck the Nepal-China border.
The Nepal Army identified the survivor as Lu Haitao, who was found inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project on Saturday.
According to the army, a joint team involving Nepali soldiers and foreign rescuers reached Haitao approximately 225 metres inside the tunnel and brought him out alive.
“A joint rescue team comprising the Nepali Army and foreign rescuers has rescued a Chinese national, Lu Haitao, alive from inside a tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project,” the army said following the rescue on Saturday afternoon local time.
“Lu Haitao was rescued from a point approximately 225 meters inside the tunnel. His health is currently being assessed, while search and rescue operations are continuing.”
The rescue came as emergency teams continued searching for people still missing following the catastrophic flash floods and mudslides that devastated communities along the Nepal-China border.
Authorities in Nepal and China said the disaster has claimed at least 1,375 lives, while more than 5,000 people remain missing.
In a separate rescue operation, a 60-year-old woman was also pulled alive from a four-storey building in Nepal’s Nuwakot district, where she had been trapped on an upper floor for 10 days.
The scale of the disaster has prompted additional international assistance, with the United Nations and humanitarian partners launching a $49.6 million emergency appeal to support people affected by the floods.
Rescue operations are continuing as authorities search damaged buildings and other areas for possible survivors.
