A tunnel being built in Nepal with financial and technical assistance from Japan has helped more than 4,000 people escape danger. This came after heavy rains last month triggered deadly floods and landslides.
The late September deluge wreaked havoc across the mountainous nation, leaving more than 200 people dead.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency says there were many landslides that cut off access to some communities. More than 100 vehicles were left stranded.
The Nagdhunga tunnel is under construction in a mountainous area near the capital Kathmandu. It is funded by a loan from Japan of more than 16.6 billion yen, or over 110 million dollars.
The tunnel was scheduled to open to traffic in October of next year.
At the request of local police, Japanese authorities allowed emergency vehicles to pass through the unfinished tunnel to conduct rescue operations.
A woman told NHK that she was very worried that a landslide could happen again. Another person said he is grateful because the tunnel saved his life when a bus used it to rescue residents.
Inoue Kenichi is the head of a local office of a Japanese construction company. He said there were many stranded mothers with small children and infants. Inoue said he is glad the tunnel was used to help evacuate many people to safety.