Another new flash flood in Nepal
Souce
According to the authorities, the sequence of events may have been as follows: around 4:30 a.m., a landslide—consisting of rock and earth, with no ice or rain involved—temporarily blocked a river or one of its tributaries (the exact location remains unclear). Water and debris accumulated for a couple of hours until the natural dam gave way, unleashing a violent torrent of black water, mud, and wreckage that swept up everything in its path.
By 6:00 a.m., dawn had broken in Nepal, which is why we have access to these images; there is also footage from subsequent helicopter rescue operations. Some local media outlets have suggested that the cause may have been an ice avalanche or the collapse of a glacier—similar to the event that occurred in August. Sadly, several people have already been reported missing. While no fatalities have been confirmed, the Nepalese Army has rescued approximately 95 individuals, including nine foreign nationals.
Furthermore, hundreds of people have been displaced or otherwise affected; current estimates indicate that between 35 and 45 homes have been completely razed, with many others partially damaged. About half a dozen bridges have been destroyed, a school has been damaged, and a large number of sheds, as well as livestock and agricultural facilities, have been either destroyed or severely damaged. There are also reports that between 100 and 150 tourists are stranded or isolated in the Manaslu trekking region—one of the most spectacular and challenging hiking routes in the world. It is a 177-kilometer circular trail that reaches altitudes of 5,106 meters and encircles Mount Manaslu, which stands at 8,163 meters.
These tourists were trekking along this route and are now cut off. Hopefully, they are in a safe location. All of this comes nearly a month and a half after the catastrophic floods of August 26—triggered by an avalanche of rock and ice near the Chinese border—which claimed the lives of 1,400 to 1,500 people, left thousands missing, and caused widespread, devastating destruction.
The fact that we knew this would happen again is not a prophecy; it is simply the mechanics of nature. Nepal is a country nestled within the world’s highest mountain range, characterized by seismic activity and massive glaciers that are currently undergoing a process of melting. This leads to catastrophic landslides and the collapse of entire glaciers; mountainsides give way, temporarily blocking river channels. Eventually, the force and pressure of the water break through the blockage, unleashing a flood wave that acts like a crusher, sweeping away everything in its path.
This does not happen only in Nepal; any country that combines active mountains—that is, mountains undergoing tectonic uplift, rather than old, eroded ones; I am referring, for instance, to the Alps or the Andes—and also features ice and rivers, is susceptible to this type of catastrophe.
Are there solutions? Yes, indeed. Measures can be taken regarding monitoring and early warning systems, as well as the construction of housing and infrastructure in locations safe from flood paths—something that can be calculated. Switzerland is one of the most advanced countries in combating avalanches and floods of this nature; it is a model we should look to, and the authorities in Nepal are taking careful note of this. In fact, in this instance, SMS alerts and evacuation orders helped many people reach higher ground in time and escape the disaster.