Nepal held a national day of mourning on Monday for victims of devastating glacial floods, as families of missing hydropower workers feared trapped in tunnels prayed rescuers might yet find them alive.
The August 26 glacial and mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border killed at least 1,398 people, with more than 5,500 missing, including around 800 foreigners.
Flags flew at half-mast, with candlelight vigils planned later in the day, as the nation marked the 13th day after the deaths, following Hindu mourning rituals.
Hundreds of hydropower workers are among the missing, but the rescue of three of them from deep inside tunnels — two Nepalis on Friday and a Chinese man on Saturday — have buoyed hopes that more could still be alive.
Nepal Army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said rescue efforts were continuing at “the same tempo” to make sure “that no one is still stranded”.
