Rescue of Nepal hydropower workers ‘triumph for humans and humanity’, tunnelling expert says
Arnold Dix, an Australian engineer and geologist who worked at Ground Zero after 9/11, says finding two workers alive in Trishuli 3A ‘gives us hope’
TL;DR
- Two workers were rescued alive from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel in Nepal, nine days after flash floods devastated the Nepal-Tibet border.
- The rescue, described as "one of the great rescues of the 21st century," has boosted morale and provided hope for finding more survivors.
- Arnold Dix, an Australian engineer and geologist assisting in the operation, highlighted the complexities of the rescue, including using explosives and digging an emergency trench.
- Despite successes, significant risks remain for rescuers, and another 40 workers are believed to be trapped in the tunnel.
- The floods have caused widespread destruction, with at least 1,294 confirmed deaths and over 5,000 people missing in Nepal, and 31 deaths and 531 missing in China.
- Australian government officials and disaster response specialists are on the ground assisting in search-and-rescue and relief efforts.