Summary

Live Reporting

Edited by Craig Hoyle, with reporting from Azadeh Moshiri in Rasuwa and BBC Nepali in Nuwakot and Kathmandu

  1. Hopes had faded before this morning's rescues

    Stephen McDonell
    China correspondent

    On the 10th day of this flash flood emergency, hopes had faded that any more survivors could be found - yet two workers in Nepal have been dragged to safety from a hydropower tunnel system.

    It is thought that hundreds of workers may have been trapped underground after a glacier collapsed last week, triggering a powerful high-mountain surge of mud and water compared to an inland tsunami.

    Earlier today rescuers say they called into one of the tunnels at the Trishuli power project and several voices responded beyond a blocked section.

    They asked the workers to have patience and now army teams have not only been able to reach the trapped men but to bring them to the surface alive.

    Officials in Nepal have told the BBC that they are now expecting to rescue others from the same site.

  2. Images show tunnel survivors being airlifted to Kathmandu

    Here are the latest images of Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan being airlifted to hospital, following their rescues this morning:

    Army personnel are pictured carried a stretcher to a waiting helicopter.Reuters
    A shot of a helicopter other people can be seen through the windows on the other sideReuters
    Army personnel transport one of the survivors into an ambulanceReuters

  3. One survivor in 'critical' condition, prime minister's office says

    One 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.

    Kabir Maharjan as he is being rescued, pictured covered in mud and strapped to a stretcher.Prime Minister's Secretariat

    Kabir Maharjan is rescued from the Trishuli 3A tunnel after being trapped underground for nine days

  4. Rescuers in race to save other workers trapped in tunnels

    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

    Map showing hydropower projects along the Trishuli River in Nepal downstream of a glacier collapse near the Tibet border. Upper Trishuli 1, Trishuli 3A and Trishuli 3B are marked along the river valley, with a note indicating rescuers are attempting to reach people trapped in tunnels at the hydropower plants. An inset map locates the glacier collapse north of Kathmandu.

  5. Efforts ongoing to rescue 'more and more' survivors - Nepal's communications' minister

    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."

    Army personnel dressed in high-vis searching for survivors in a hydropower tunnelNepal Army Handout/EPA

  6. A reminder of how the flash flooding unfolded nine days ago

    As 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.

    Map showing the path of floodwaters along the Lende Khola, Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers in northern Nepal after a glacier collapse near the Tibet border. The collapse sent ice and rock debris into the river, triggering flooding that destroyed a border checkpoint and continued downstream past Syrapu Besi. An inset map locates the affected area north of Kathmandu.

  7. 'We are all happy...even crying,' says wife of rescued labourer

    Picture of Hirashova Maharjan, wearing a pink top against a stone wall.Handout to BBC Nepali

    The 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."

  8. What we know so far

    A man on a stretcher breathes through an oxygen mask.Reuters

    Two 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:

    • The two rescued workers have been named as Sanjaya Shah and Kabir Maharjan - authorities say they have been airlifted directly to hospital in Kathmandu
    • Both of the workers have injuries on their hands and legs, "possibly" from crawling through the tunnel, authorities have told the BBC
    • At least 39 others are expected to be rescued from the tunnel after rescuers heard voices early on Friday
    • Dramatic footage shows the moment that the workers were pulled to safety
    • More than 150 others are still feared trapped at other hydropower sites in Nepal
    • The brother of one of those rescued says that his heart is "lighter"

  9. 'We might be back in miracle country'

    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."

  10. Both rescued workers have injuries on hands and legs

    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.

  11. Thirty-nine workers believed to be in the tunnel

    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.

  12. This is a moment of hope

    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.

  13. 'My heart is lighter,' says relative of rescued man

    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.

  14. 'Don't panic, we are here to rescue you'

    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".

  15. Moment workers are rescued from Nepal tunnel
    Breaking

    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

  16. Workers trapped for nine days now free

    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.

    Rescue workers place man on a stretcher.NEA
    A man, with mud on his face, is pulled free from the ground by rescue workers.NEA

  17. Photos of rescued people
    Breaking

    We'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.

    rescue workers put a tunnel worker on to a stretcherNEA

    Rescued labourer Kabir Mahajan is lifted on to a stretcher

    armed forces carry a stretcher to a helicopterShaktimaya Tamang/BBC Nepali

    Armed forces carry a stretcher to a helicopter

  18. First person rescued airlifted to hospital
    Breaking

    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.

  19. More details on rescued people
    Breaking

    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.

  20. More people feared trapped at other hydropower sites

    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.

    Map showing site of hydropower plants where rescue operations are taking place.