Tied with Ropes, Entering the Tunnels... Where Are the 900 'Tunnel Missing'?

[Anchor]

The death toll from the massive floods in Nepal has risen to 955, with 4,471 people reported missing so far. Rescue operations are continuing for more than 900 missing people believed to be trapped inside tunnels, and although rescue teams have managed to enter some of the tunnels, no survivors have been found yet.

Reporter Min Gyeongho has the details.

[Reporter]

A rescue worker descends into a hydropower plant tunnel with a rope tied around their body.

Because both sides of the tunnel entrance were blocked with mud, an access route for rescue was created by drilling through the upper section.

Operations are also underway to inspect the inside of the tunnel using cameras.

Around 10 tunnel rescue experts dispatched from China and India have also joined the efforts.

Despite desperate rescue operations day and night, there is no news of survivors being found; instead, bodies have only been discovered near the entrance.

[Zhao Bo / Chinese Rescue Worker: We completed the search of the entire interior of Tunnel 3, which spans 2.5 kilometers, but did not find any survivors.]

One body was also recovered from the tunnel of the Upper Trishuli hydropower plant in Nepal where nine missing South Koreans worked, but the exact identity has not yet been confirmed.

Those who miraculously escaped the tunnels by being carried or crawling describe the place as hell.

[Ram Chandra / Tunnel Survivor: I was hanging onto a ladder attached to the ceiling. If I had let go, I would have fallen into muddy water mixed with concrete.]

[Amar Vista / Rescue Volunteer: When we went into the tunnel, the reality was too gruesome. Words cannot express it.]

Nepalese authorities estimate that about 900 people are missing across more than 10 hydropower plants, with a significant number believed to be trapped inside tunnels.

It is reported that multiple large tunnels were being constructed at each power plant to channel water from upstream or to install mechanical equipment.

The nine South Korean employees who were rescued on August 27 returned home yesterday afternoon, while the site manager plans to remain in Nepal for the time being to assist with the search for the missing.

The death toll from this massive flood across both China and Nepal has risen to 955, with 4,471 people tallied as missing.

(Video Editing: Kim Jong-mi)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.