2 trapped Nepal workers rescued from buried tunnel 9 days after devastating floods

Updated on: September 4, 2026 / 6:20 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Kathmandu, Nepal — Rescuers in Nepal pulled two workers alive from a hydropower tunnel Friday as emergency teams continued an operation to reach others believed to be trapped inside, officials said.

The two men were rescued from the Trishuli 3A tunnel nine days after floods, likely caused by a glacier collapse, devastated towns and swept away villages in Nepal on Aug. 26.

Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane posted about the second rescue on his Facebook page shortly after army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet confirmed the first trapped worker's rescue.

CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports that "there's renewed hope that we might be seeing more survivors come out — possibly dozens more — because rescuers have already heard more voices deeper in those tunnels."

Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told Inocencio in a text message that he's "thrilled" about the two rescues and is "hoping to see more survivors." He said it's unclear how many survivors there are, but with those voices being heard, there are more people alive waiting to be saved and the clock is ticking to get to them.

Rescuers first heard voices from inside…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/healthwatch/