950 dead from Nepal, China flood as hundreds feared stuck in hydropower tunnels

The death toll from catastrophic flooding on the Nepal–China border has risen to about 950, with authorities warning that hundreds more are missing. Investigators say many workers are feared trapped inside tunnels at hydropower facilities that were buried under thick mud when floodwaters surged through the border region. Rescue teams from Nepal, China and nearby agencies are racing to reach the sites and recover people, while efforts to stabilize collapsed portals and pump out water continue. The floods disrupted access to several hydro projects that feed regional power grids, complicating relief work for communities already affected by the disaster. Officials say weather conditions and the unstable ground hinder ongoing searches, but responders are maintaining a substantial deployment of heavy machinery, engineers and medical teams at the sites and in temporary shelters for displaced residents. Emergency shelters, food and medical aid are being organized as the authorities coordinate cross-border assistance and monitor for further land and tunnel collapses. The incident underscores the risk faced by workers at high-altitude hydro schemes in extreme weather and highlights the need for improved disaster response and infrastructure resilience along the border.