KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – Rescuers in Nepal successfully pulled out a Chinese man and a woman in separate operations on Saturday, marking 10 days since devastating floods hit the region. These efforts are part of ongoing search operations for thousands of missing individuals following the catastrophic incidents.
The man, reported to be named Lu Haitao, was rescued from a 225-meter (approximately 740-foot) hydropower tunnel, as confirmed by a social media post from Nepal's prime minister's office. This rescue brought the total number of workers saved from the Trishuli hydropower project to three, following the successful retrieval of two Nepalese workers on the previous day.
Nepal's army disclosed that the joint rescue team, consisting of Nepalese military personnel and South Korean disaster response experts, conducted the operation. During the evacuation, Lu was transported by helicopter, and an army medic was seen checking on his health throughout the flight. Illustrative images released illustrated the harrowing moments of his extraction from the tunnel.
CCTV, the Chinese state broadcaster, shared footage of the rescue, which included an audio clip of Lu expressing his elation upon spotting the rescue crews' lights. "When they rescued me today, when they shone (the light) before my eyes, I couldn’t believe it,” Lu stated. Following the rescue, he was taken to a hospital where he was reported to be in stable condition.
Lu Haitao, 49, originally from Henan province in central China, had previously been a farmer and worked as a carpenter during his free time. His sister, Lu Hairong, shared that he traveled to Nepal in February for work alongside a fellow villager. The family had been concerned since the onset of the mudslide, and they expressed overwhelming relief upon seeing Lu’s photo in the news. "It’s a stroke of sheer luck amid the misfortune," she remarked regarding his rescue.
Search operations have intensified at twelve hydropower projects throughout Nepal, where officials estimate that about 900 workers are still unaccounted for. Alarmingly, around 500 individuals are believed to be trapped in various tunnels. Specialized rescue teams from India, China, South Korea, and the United States have joined forces to sift through debris, damaged structures, and tunnels to uncover any survivors amidst the devastation.
Additionally, in Nuwakot town, which has been heavily impacted by flooding, rescuers managed to save another woman from a collapsed house. Reports indicate that she was airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment. Images released by the Nepalese army illustrated the dramatic moment she was located, covered in mud, within the damaged structure. Rescuers provided her with bottled water before ensuring her safe extraction, wrapped in a gray blanket.
The floods that struck on August 26 have resulted in at least 1,300 fatalities, with Nepal’s disaster management agency estimating that more than 5,000 individuals remain missing. The incidents appear to have been exacerbated by a glacier collapse, raising concerns regarding future flooding risks in the region. Rescue operations continue as teams work tirelessly to locate survivors and provide aid to those affected by this natural disaster.
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Saaliq reported from New Delhi. Associated Press journalist Kanis Leung in Hong Kong contributed to this report.
