Two workers have been rescued alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal, nine days after catastrophic floods swept through the country. The rescue has raised hopes that other missing workers may also survive.

Search teams heard voices coming from inside the tunnel on Friday morning. Rescuers then reached the men and brought them to safety. Images released by the Nepal Army showed one rescuer carrying a worker on his back while soldiers helped him out.

Officials identified the survivors as a mechanical foreman and a mechanical supervisor at the Trishuli 3A hydropower plant. Both men travelled by air to a hospital in Kathmandu after their rescue. One of them remains in critical condition.

One of the rescued workers told officials that more people were still alive inside the tunnel. Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet confirmed that rescue teams have continued searching the area.

The breakthrough has given families renewed hope. About 115 people may still remain trapped inside the Trishuli 3A tunnel, according to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal.

The wider disaster has left hundreds of workers missing from hydropower plants across the country. Authorities estimate that around 900 workers remain unaccounted for at 12 plants. About 500 of them may be trapped inside tunnels.

Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina thanked the rescuers who worked through the day and night. He also said officials are waiting for more survivors to emerge.

The floods have caused a devastating loss of life. Authorities say at least 1,287 people have died, while more than 5,000 remain missing following the August 26 disaster.

Scientists believe a glacier collapse may have triggered the flooding. The disaster also affected neighbouring China. Authorities there reported 21 deaths and 541 people missing on the Tibet side of the border.

The flooding has also caused major damage to infrastructure and property. Nepal’s disaster agency chief told Reuters that the damage could reach 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees, or about US$2.5 billion.

For families waiting for news, the rescue of the two workers offers a small but important sign of hope. Search teams remain focused on finding those who may still be alive inside the tunnels.