Two people have been rescued from a tunnel in Nepal more than a week after flash flooding hit the Nepal-Tibet border, killing more than 1,200 people
Dramatic footage shows the moment Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan are pulled alive from the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project - watch the video here
Both men have injuries on their hands and legs, and have been airlifted to hospital in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, authorities tell the BBC
At least 39 others are thought to be trapped in the same tunnel, with more than 100 still missing across a network of tunnels at hydropower sites along the Trishuli River
Amid all the devastation and the fading odds, this is a moment of hope, writes our correspondent in Nepal
The flooding, which hit last Wednesday, is believed to have been caused by a glacial collapse. Buildings and roads were wiped out, with thousands of people still missing - here's how it unfolded
Here are the latest images of the survivors being airlifted to hospital, following their rescues this morning:
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersOne of the survivors rescued this morning is in a "critical" condition, according to a new statement from the Nepal prime minister's office.
"Kabir Maharjan, who was rescued second, is in a critical state and is undergoing treatment at the Army Hospital in Kathmandu," the statement says.
Sanjaya Saha will also undergo medical examinations in the same hospital, it adds.
Both have been airlifted to Kathmandu this morning.
Image source, Prime Minister's SecretariatKabir Maharjan is rescued from the Trishuli 3A tunnel after being trapped underground for nine days
Rescue operations are taking place at half a dozen hydropower tunnels in which more than 150 other people are feared trapped.
The two who have been rescued so far today are from the Trishuli 3A tunnel.
Dramatic footage shows the moment that the workers were pulled to safety
Nepal's communications minister, Bikram Timilsina, says there is hope for more rescues.
In a post on Facebook, he writes: "We are waiting for more and more people to be rescued.
"A heartfelt thank you to all those who worked tirelessly day and night to rescue two people alive!
"Efforts and prayers are under way to rescue more and more survivors."
Image source, Nepal Army Handout/EPAAs we've been reporting, today's rescues come nine days after deadly flash flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border.
Scientists are still studying the exact cause, but it is believed to have been caused by a glacial collapse and climate change may have been a factor.
Moments after the seismic event, which was initially thought to have been an earthquake, a massive wall of water and debris crashed downstream, taking buildings, roads and vehicles with it - you can see the path of the water in the graphic below.
More than 1,200 have been confirmed killed and 5,000 others remain missing, with more than 150 still feared trapped in a vast network of mud-filled hyropower sites along Nepal's Trishuli River.
Nepal has developed a number of projects alongside its mountainous river system.
Engineers have been pumping air into the tunnels - while some survivors previously told the BBC of the moments water crashed into their tunnel.
Image source, Handout to BBC NepaliThe wife of rescued labourer Kabir Maharjan, Hirashova, tells BBC Nepali how happy she is that he's been found alive.
"I saw the photos on Facebook. I was very happy. They are bringing him to the the army hospital in Kathmandu. I am heading towards the hospital," she says.
"We couldn't properly eat or drink for 10 days. We were very scared. Now we are all happy. We are even crying."
Image source, ReutersTwo workers have been rescued alive from the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Plant in Nepal, more than a week after a devastating flash flood tore through the Himalayan region.
If you're just joining us, this is what we know about the rescued workers so far:
A tunnelling expert told the AFP news agency that prior to the rescue, teams had already dug through debris blocking the tunnel for 50-60 metres (164-196 feet).
They were hoping for a breakthrough, said Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association - and then they pulled the two survivors out.
"Right now, I'm 'glass three-quarters full'," said Dix.
"After a week of 24/7 heartache, we might, just, be back in miracle country."
Azadeh Moshiri
Reporting from Rasuwa, Nepal
Both of the rescued workers have injuries on their hands and legs, “possibly” from crawling through the tunnel.
They are suffering from lack of oxygen, authorities from the Nepal Electricity Agency (NEA) have told the BBC.
Azadeh Moshiri
Reporting from Rasuwa, Nepal
We have just spoken to Suresh Raut, a senior official of the Nepal Electricity Authority. He just told us they believe there are 39 workers in the tunnel.
They can't confirm how many are alive, but they confirmed the same figure of two survivors recovered from the tunnel.
He told us the survivors have been airlifted directly to the hospital in Kathmandu.
Azadeh Moshiri
Reporting from Rasuwa, Nepal
Amid all the devastation and the fading odds, this is a moment of hope.
Thousands of people are still missing, including hundreds of workers trapped in tunnels, many feared dead. But on Friday, rescuers suddenly heard voices in the Trishuli 3A tunnel, more than a week after the flood that has devastated border areas in the country.
These missions are challenging, as rescuers must make their way through flooded tunnels choked with mud and debris.
The crew had previously blasted a hole in the crown of the tunnel, and had descended on ropes. Excavators have also been used, and oxygen is also being pumped into the tunnel.
The survivors are now being airlifted to army hospitals for treatment, and the hope is more will follow.
Amir Maharjan, the brother of the rescued worker Kabir Maharjan, says that he is "so happy" that he has been rescued.
"My heart is lighter," he tells AFP news agency.
"The entire family is very happy," he says, according to Reuters.
Rescuers have described the moment they made contact with the surviving men.
After they initially heard voices from inside the tunnel, rescuers had called out: "Don't panic, we are here to rescue you," according to local news reports.
Then they heard a "faint response" from inside, saying "OK".
This is the dramatic moment that the workers were rescued from the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Plant, nine days after a flash flood that has killed more than 1,200 people.
Watch: Moment workers are rescued from Nepal tunnel
We can bring you more photos from the Nepali authorities of the rescued workers.
Officials have told BBC Nepali that they are expecting at least 42 people to be rescued from the Trishuli 3A Hydropower Plant.
Image source, NEA
Image source, NEAWe're now getting the first photos of the people that have been rescued from the Trishuli 31 Hydropower Plant in Nepal.
The person in the photo below is Kabir Maharjan.
Image source, NEARescued labourer Kabir Mahajan is lifted on to a stretcher
Image source, Shaktimaya Tamang/BBC NepaliArmed forces carry a stretcher to a helicopter
Sanjaya Shah has been airlifted to Battar, north-west of the capital Kathmandu.
The wife of Kabir Maharajan, the second person rescued, is getting ready to go to Chhauni Hospital, a military hospital also in Kathmandu.
We're getting more details on the people that have been rescued from the hydropower site in Nepal.
Authorities tell the BBC that Sanjaya Shah, the first person rescued, is not in a condition to talk.
The second person, Kabir Maharjan, "smiled and was thankful", authorities say.
Separate rescue operations are taking place at half a dozen hydropower tunnels in which more than 150 people are feared trapped.
The two who have been rescued so far today are from the Trishuli 3A tunnel.
Hundreds of the more than 5,000 still missing are labourers working in a vast network of tunnels at hydropower sites along the river.
Engineers have been pumping air into the hydropower tunnels as part of the huge rescue operation.
Here is a graphic that shows how that is being done:
