Nepal Rescuers Pull Two Alive From Flooded Tunnel

Rescuers in Nepal pulled two workers out alive on Friday from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel, nine days after catastrophic floods buried the site in mud and debris.

Officials identified the two men as a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor. Both were in stable condition and were flown to a hospital in Kathmandu, officials told the Associated Press.

The rescues are the first sign of life from inside the tunnel since the Aug. 26 disaster, and rescuers at the site say they believe more people may still be alive underground.

The Toll

At least 1,259 people have been killed in the floods and more than 5,000 remain missing, according to Nepal's disaster management agency.

At the Trishuli 3A project alone, at least 557 workers are missing and about 115 are believed to be trapped in the main tunnel, according to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal.

Across the country, about 900 workers are missing from 12 hydropower projects, with roughly 500 believed trapped in tunnels, local authorities said.