Chinese national rescued in Nepal mudslide as search continues

A Chinese national who had been trapped for 10 days in northern Nepal following the August 26 mudslide was rescued from a tunnel on Saturday.

According to Nepal's prime minister's office, rescuers saved the Chinese national from a 225-meter tunnel at the Trishuli Hydropower Project, which was in an area affected by the mudslide.

The rescued man recalled that while waiting to be rescued, he saw light multiple times and "called out loudly" every time to attract attention.

However, the rescuers were not able to hear him, according to CMG reports.

When the rescuers finally approached and he could see the light in front of him, he could not believe it, the rescued man said.

After receiving on-site medical checks, he was transferred to a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, for further evaluation.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming later visited him at the hospital.

Death toll and rescue efforts As of Friday evening, 31 people had been confirmed dead and 531 others remained missing after the mudslide struck Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, according to the local emergency response and rescue command center.

Nepal Police reported that the death toll had risen to 1,344, with another 4,898 still missing, as of 5 p.m. on Saturday.

With heavy machinery now able to access the central location hit by the mudslide, rescue workers are carrying out precise search operations with the help of professional equipment.

The core affected area at Gyirong Port, which covers approximately 54,000 square meters, has been divided into seven sectors, with rescue teams prioritizing the clearing of key areas such as the joint inspection building, dormitories and the parking lot.

Norbu Tsering, deputy secretary of the Xigaze Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, said more than 2,300 people and 8,800 pieces of equipment have been deployed for search and rescue operations in the central affected area, which now has full access to electricity and communications services.

More than 100 experts and technical personnel from departments overseeing natural resources and water conservancy have also been working at the site, along with professional equipment to provide further technical support.

China strengthens disaster monitoring An article published in Nature on Wednesday highlighted the urgent need to upgrade future monitoring and forecasting systems.