Chinese national rescued alive from Nepal tunnel: video
A Chinese national has been rescued alive from a tunnel in Nepal, authorities said Saturday, 10 days after a devastating glacier collapse tore through a Himalayan valley and killed more than 1,300 people.
The survivor, identified by the Nepali army only as Luhaitao, was found inside a 225-metre tunnel at the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project.
He was flown by helicopter to an army hospital after receiving emergency medical treatment at the scene. Footage released by the army showed the man appearing exhausted and disoriented, with dried mud and dust covering his skin and clothing as a medic checked his vital signs.
Luhaitao’s rescue came a day after emergency workers pulled two other people alive from a separate tunnel at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Station on the same river.
【中国男子受困10天后获救：尼泊尔救援队在隧道内225米处找到他，意识清醒，还能喝水】生命的奇迹❤️！9月5日，尼泊尔灾区再传出幸存者获救的消息。一名中国男子受困水电站隧道10天后，被救援人员找到并救出。… https://t.co/OGlZVoN7pv pic.twitter.com/IM3GmJfCwZ
— 王局拍案 (@wangjupaian) September 5, 2026
Hundreds feared trapped in hydropower tunnels
The August 26 collapse sent a massive wall of ice, rock and mud through the upper reaches of the Trishuli River valley, overwhelming communities and infrastructure in one of Nepal’s worst recent natural disasters.
More than 1,300 people have been confirmed dead, while over 5,600 remain missing, according to authorities. The disaster also damaged roads, settlements and hydropower facilities across the affected region.
Rescue workers believe at least 900 people may have been trapped inside tunnels connected to six hydropower projects when the collapse struck. The tunnels may have provided temporary protection for some workers, although the scale of the damage has complicated search operations.
Nepal’s mountainous terrain has also made access difficult, with rescue teams relying on helicopters and heavy equipment to reach isolated areas and clear debris.
在隧道中坚持10天后，中国男子Luhaitao终于从上特里苏里1号水电站隧道中获救。获救后，尼泊尔救援人员似乎在询问他的国籍，他回答：«China！»
— 王局拍案 (@wangjupaian) September 5, 2026
据当地报道，他的名字为Luhaitao，中文名可能音译为«陆海涛»。 https://t.co/P0fFXUm6em pic.twitter.com/ofIdrLMfKu
Nepal faces recurring Himalayan hazards
Nepal is particularly vulnerable to landslides, floods and other natural disasters because of its steep Himalayan landscape and extensive river systems. Rising temperatures have also increased concern about the stability of glaciers and glacial lakes in the region.
The country has invested heavily in hydropower as it seeks to expand electricity production and exports, with numerous projects under construction in remote mountain valleys. However, the disaster has highlighted the risks faced by infrastructure developments located near unstable slopes and glacier-fed rivers.
Authorities have not said how Luhaitao survived inside the tunnel for 10 days or whether additional survivors could still be found. Search and rescue operations were continuing Saturday as emergency crews worked to reach areas buried beneath the debris.
