Chinese, Nepali teams join forces in tunnel rescues after deadly mudslide

Chinese tunnel experts have joined forces with the Nepali military and local emergency teams to conduct search and rescue operations following last week's deadly mudslide on the China-Nepal border.

Nepal Police said Wednesday the death toll from the deadly mudslide on Aug 26 has risen to 1,118, with 4,858 people still missing.

Under the coordination of local authorities, the Chinese team is active in the hardest-hit areas of northern Nepal, assessing damaged tunnels and aiding in rescue efforts.

At one tunnel site, rescuers faced significant challenges: accumulated water, thick mud, and fallen rocks obstructed access. The Chinese experts employed a combination of manual searches, drone reconnaissance, and inflatable buoys to delve deeper into the flooded tunnel.

"We couldn't go any further, so we urgently worked out a new plan – mainly using drones to scout ahead, combined with manual searching. Inside, we saw a large volume of water. Further in, the tunnel was completely blocked. Behind that, there was a deep pool, so we used buoys for personnel to paddle through and continue the inspection," said Li Yingping, a Chinese tunnel expert.

After evaluating the initial tunnel site, the team swiftly responded to an urgent request from the Nepali military. They were airlifted by military helicopter to another damaged tunnel at a hydropower project site for further assessment.

Nepali military officials expressed their gratitude for the rapid response and technical support from the Chinese experts.

"Thank you to the Chinese expert team who are here, they are standing with us in times of crisis. So that Nepali army team, in coordination with the Chinese expert team, we are like working as a team for better search and rescue operations and we are very happy the expert team is here," said a military official.

Chinese, Nepali teams join forces in tunnel rescues after deadly mudslide

Panama declared a state of emergency on Saturday to coordinate relief efforts and assist communities affected by a powerful earthquake that struck the country Friday.

The 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Panama at 12:56 local time Friday, with its epicenter about 39 km northwest of Tonosi in Los Santos province, damaging homes, schools, health facilities, roads and public buildings across several parts of the country.

The quake has left 27 people injured as of present, according to Panama's National Civil Protection System.

Presidency Minister Juan Carlos Orillac told a press conference at the presidential palace that the declaration would ensure government agencies remain on standby and have the resources needed to assist those affected.

Orillac said President Jose Raul Mulino had ordered the creation of a commission to coordinate relief operations, manage resources and address the needs of affected communities.

The government has also set up donation collection centers, including one at Omar Park in Panama City, while provincial government offices will serve as additional collection points, he said.

Panamanian authorities continue to assess the damage and coordinate emergency response efforts.

Panama declares state of emergency after powerful quake