The Zioneer reports, citing Israeli news outlet ynet, that at least 933 workers are trapped in tunnels in Nepal following catastrophic floods. The workers were among 2,500 people previously reported missing, according to The Zioneer's earlier coverage.
At least 933 workers are now reported trapped in tunnels in Nepal following catastrophic floods, Israeli news outlet ynet reported this morning (Monday, 08:01 Jerusalem). The workers, employed at hydroelectric projects along the Nepal-China border, had previously been listed among the 2,500 missing. The new report provides a grim update on their fate, though rescue efforts remain severely hampered by destroyed roads and communication lines in the remote Himalayan region.
The Zioneer has been tracking the disaster since Wednesday, August 26, when initial reports from Reuters cited 157 dead and hundreds missing. Over the course of that day, the confirmed death toll rose sharply to 676, with nearly 3,000 missing, as reported by Israeli media citing Reuters. By Sunday, August 30, the Nepal National Disaster Management Authority had updated the toll to 734 dead and 2,500 missing, including 589 foreign nationals and the 933 hydroelectric project workers. The latest development—citing ynet—now indicates those workers are confirmed trapped in underground tunnels, shifting their status from missing to likely trapped.
The disaster was triggered by a flash flood caused by an ice-rock avalanche or glacier collapse, as The Zioneer reported on Wednesday, August 26. The floodwaters overwhelmed the Gyirong Port crossing and severed roads, communications and electricity across the border region. Nepal has struggled with climate-related and geological risks, which this event underscores. International monitoring and aid coordination continue.
The condition of the trapped workers remains unknown. Rescue operations face immense logistical challenges, and the status of the other missing persons—including 589 foreign nationals—has yet to be clarified.
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