Rescue teams find survivors days after historic avalanche in Nepal

Rescuers in Nepal found a Chinese woman alive in a house ten days after a historic avalanche that devastated the country. The information was released by the Nepali army spokesperson.

According to authorities, the woman is being transported by helicopter to Kathmandu for treatment.

The first survivor was pulled out of the Trishul 3A hydropower plant tunnel during an operation conducted by the Nepalese Army. Shortly afterwards, a country parliamentarian stated that a second person was also rescued alive.

Images shared by the Army showed one of the workers covered in mud and being carried on the shoulders of a rescuer. Medical teams provided care at the rescue site and the two workers were later taken to a hospital in Kathmandu.

"I can't explain what we are feeling right now. We are just grateful to God," Amir Maharjan, brother of one of the rescued workers, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency.

Authorities believe other people may still be alive inside the tunnel because rescuers said they heard other voices. Nepal's Energy Minister, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, told British broadcaster BBC that he expected more rescues to take place in the coming hours.

At least 557 workers are missing in Trishuli 3A, on the banks of the Trishuli river. Around 115 were reportedly trapped in the main tunnel, according to the Nepal Independent Power Producers Association.

A historic avalanche hit Nepal's border with Tibet on August 26 following the collapse of a massive glacier high in the Himalayas, officials said. The disaster devastated cities and valleys in several parts of the region, and left more than 1,300 dead and thousands missing.

In Nepal, 1,287 people died and another 5,083 were missing, according to a report updated by Nepalese authorities this Friday.

In Tibet, Chinese authorities updated this Friday the number of deaths in the region to 31, and 531 missing. It is believed that these numbers, however, are underreported by the censorship imposed by Beijing.

Searches continue in affected areas and energy generation projects. Local authorities estimate that around 900 workers are missing at 12 hydroelectric plants. Of this total, approximately 500 may be trapped in tunnels.

In addition to the human tragedy, the disaster caused billions in damage. According to Dharma Raj Upreti, head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, properties, housing and infrastructure works suffered losses estimated at at least US$2.56 billion (387.5 billion Nepalese rupees).

The government also estimates that the initial recovery costs in the first four months will be around US$52.6 million (7.95 billion Nepalese rupees). The resources should be used to rebuild roads, install temporary shelters and restore drinking water and electricity services.

If approved, the estimate would place the floods among the costliest natural disasters in Nepal's recent history.