Nepal Rescues 350 From Hydropower Tunnel as Mudslide Leaves Over 1,000 Missing
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 28
Nepal Rescues 350 From Hydropower Tunnel as Mudslide Leaves Over 1,000 Missing
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 28
Summary
350 people were pulled from a mud-filled hydropower tunnel in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, with rescuers still trying to evacuate more than 100 others trapped inside.
533 more residents were moved from flooded areas after a catastrophic debris flow tore through the valley, while dramatic video from the prime minister’s office showed workers dragging survivors through thick mud.
538 deaths have been confirmed in Nepal, and the number of missing on the Nepal side has risen to 1,924; in Tibet, authorities reported five dead and 558 missing.
USGS said the disaster was likely triggered when a giant ice mass collapsed into the Lhende Khola River after an earthquake, sending floodwaters and debris nearly 100 km downstream.
About 90 Americans are among the missing, and the flooding likely buried buildings, damaged hydropower infrastructure and hit a key highway link between Nepal and China.
Himalayan Glacier Collapse of August 2026: Over 1,000 Missing, Hydropower Devastated, and Urgent Lessons for Regional Climate Adaptation
Overview
The 2026 Himalayan disaster began with rising global temperatures and unusual heat, which weakened the glacier on Langtang Lirung. This led to a massive chunk of ice breaking off and plunging down the mountain, releasing huge energy and triggering a destructive landslide. The resulting slurry blocked a river, forming unstable barrier lakes that soon breached, unleashing catastrophic flash floods. These floods devastated hydropower infrastructure, destroyed roads and bridges, and stranded hundreds of thousands. The disaster was made worse by degraded mountain permafrost and a breakdown in early warning systems, highlighting the urgent need for better climate adaptation and regional cooperation.