Nepal Tunnel Miracle Rescue: 2 Men Pulled Alive After 9 Days Trapped in Mud-Filled Tunnel | N18G

The death toll from the devastating floods in Nepal and China has risen to nearly 1,400 people. Chinese officials have allowed CNN to get a first-hand view of the disaster zone on the China-Nepal border. This is a rare government-organized reporting trip, but CNN maintains full editorial control of our coverage. Here's Simone McCarthy with more. This was Jirang Port, the main gate, the immigration halls, customs, the parking lots where buses waited. The last man-made structure pilgrims, tourists and traders walked through before crossing between Nepal and China. That building, bridge, road are gone. This is the spot where a huge wall of water washed over a five-storey building in video that was captured on surveillance footage on August 26 when devastating floods and landslide hit the China-Nepal border. I'm standing now in the area where that building was. You would never know that there had been anything here at all. It's just completely flattened. What is left is an apocalyptic field of mud so deep that, in places, machines are cutting through about 12 feet of it. The first teams did not arrive by road. They climbed, got on rubber boats and helicopters because the highway had been torn out. All of the structures above ground had been swept away by the mudslide. It was really heartbreaking to see. So many of our fellow Chinese lost their precious lives in this disaster. Zhang also says at this stage they are clearing mud layer by layer, searching for the deceased. There are no signs of life nearly two weeks in. Chinese authorities have confirmed dozens of deaths on this side of the border in Tibet. But what the world can see of this loss is tightly managed. This is the first time that foreign media is getting access into this area where CNN is part of a small group of foreign reporters who've been given access to this site. The first time that foreign media have been allowed entry here. But certainly this is a place where there are many questions about who is here, many families seeking more answers. Like Arushi Gupta's family in India. Those were her last messages to her father. Less than an hour before the flood struck. The 33-year-old even included a picture of the Jirang port crossing as she approached the port. This is her father's message to Chinese authorities. My request to them with folded hand is please provide any information you have about my daughter. I shall be grateful to you, madam. I am requesting China authority to please share any details they haven't. More than 500 people remain missing on China's side of the border. Roughly half of them foreign nationals. When asked about the government's plans on releasing data about those who were at the port that fateful day, Chinese officials say information about missing foreign nationals has been shared with their embassies. After the identities of the victims' remains are confirmed, the relevant departments will properly hand over the remains and belongings to the families. The specific procedures for claiming and handling will be carried out in strict accordance with relevant regulations. And so the search continues. But the answers may never come. Simone McCarthy, CNN, Jirang Port. In Nepal, priests, monks and grieving residents are gathering to pray for those killed in the devastating flash floods. Mourners commemorated the day by performing rituals and offerings as search crews continue looking for the missing. The floods were triggered by a massive mud and rock collapse along the Nepal-China border, sweeping away any reminder of the once busy hub. One resident was at home when he received a warning phone call and helped dozens escape before floodwaters destroyed large parts of the town. No, it's really difficult. It's generations of generations of hard work. My father and mother gave their lives to this house, my brothers and me too. So it's really hard too. It's really painful. The death toll from those devastating floods in Nepal and China has risen to nearly 1,400 people. Chinese officials have allowed CNN to get a first-hand view of the disaster zone on the China-Nepal border. This is a rare government-organized reporting trip, but CNN maintains full editorial control of our coverage. Here's Simone McCarthy with more. This was Jirong Port, the main gate, the immigration halls, customs, the parking lots where buses waited, the last man-made structure pilgrims, tourists and traders walked through before crossing between Nepal and China. That building, bridge, road are gone. This is the spot where a huge wall of water washed over a five-story building in video that was captured on surveillance footage on August 26th when devastating floods and landslide hit the China-Nepal border. I'm standing now in the area where that building was. You would never know that there had been anything here at all. It's just completely flattened. What is left is an apocalyptic field of mud so deep that, in places, machines are cutting through about 12 feet of it. The first teams did not arrive by road. They climbed, got on rubber boats and helicopters because the highway had been torn out. All of the structures above ground had been swept away by the mudslide. It was really heartbreaking to see. So many of our fellow Chinese lost their precious lives in this disaster. Zhang also says at this stage they are clearing mud, layer by layer, searching for the deceased. There are no signs of life nearly two weeks in. Chinese authorities have confirmed dozens of deaths on this side of the border in Tibet. But what the world can see of this loss is tightly managed. This is the first time that foreign media is getting access into this area where CNN is part of a small group of foreign reporters who've been given access to this site. The first time that foreign media have been allowed entry here. But certainly this is a place where there are many questions about who is here, many families seeking more answers. Like Arushi Gupta's family in India. Those were her last messages to her father. Less than an hour before the flood struck. The 33-year-old even included a picture of the Jirang port crossing as she approached the port. This is her father's message to Chinese authorities. More than 500 people remain missing on China's side of the border. Roughly half of them foreign nationals. When asked about the government's plans on releasing data about those who were at the port that fateful day, Chinese officials say information about missing foreign nationals has been shared with their embassies. The specific procedures for claiming and handling will be carried out in strict accordance with relevant regulations. And so the search continues. But the answers may never come. Simone McCarthy, CNN. And the death toll from those devastating floods in Nepal and China has risen to nearly 1,400 people. Chinese officials have allowed CNN to get a closer first-hand view of the disaster zone on the China-Nepal border. It is a rare government-organized reporting trip, but CNN does maintain full editorial control of the coverage. Here's CNN's Simone McCarthy with more. This was Jirang port. The main gate. The immigration halls. Customs. The parking lots where buses waited. The last man-made structure pilgrims, tourists and traders walked through before crossing between Nepal and China. That building, bridge, road are gone. This is the spot where a huge wall of water washed over a five-story building in video that was captured on surveillance footage on August 26th when devastating floods and landslide hit the China-Nepal border. I'm standing now in the area where that building was. You would never know that there had been anything here at all. It's just completely flattened. What is left is an apocalyptic field of mud so deep that, in places, machines are cutting through about 12 feet of it. The first teams did not arrive by road. They climbed, got on rubber boats and helicopters because the highway had been torn out. All of the structures above ground had been swept away by the mudslide. It was really heartbreaking to see. So many of our fellow Chinese lost their precious lives in this disaster. Jiang also says at this stage they are clearing mud, layer by layer, searching for the deceased. There are no signs of life nearly two weeks in. Chinese authorities have confirmed dozens of deaths on this side of the border in Tibet. But what the world can see of this loss is tightly managed. This is the first time that foreign media is getting access into this area where CNN is part of a small group of foreign reporters who've been given access to this site. The first time that foreign media have been allowed entry here. But certainly this is a place where there are many questions about who is here, many families seeking more answers. Like Arushi Gupta's family in India. Those were her last messages to her father, less than an hour before the flood struck. The 33-year-old even included a picture of the Jirang port crossing as she approached the port. This is her father's message to Chinese authorities. My request to them with folded hand is please provide any information you have about my daughter. I shall be grateful to you, madam. I am requesting China authority to please share any details they have. More than 500 people remain missing on China's side of the border. Roughly half of them foreign nationals. When asked about the government's plans on releasing data about those who were at the port that fateful day, Chinese officials say information about missing foreign nationals has been shared with their embassies. After the identities of the victims' remains are confirmed, the relevant departments will properly hand over the remains and belongings to the families. The specific procedures for claiming and handling will be carried out in strict accordance with relevant regulations. And so the search continues. But the answers may never come. Simone McCarthy, CNN, Jirang Port.