There have been devastating flash floods and mudslides that have occurred on the border of Nepal-Tibet, claiming the lives of at least 160 people, with more than 1,500 missing in Nepal and China’s Tibet. This is the cause of a collapse in a part of the glacier high in the Himalayas, causing a surge of water, rocks, and debris in valleys.
In Nepal, 826 people have gone missing in total, with 600 foreign tourists missing. The victims of missing persons are from various countries, and it is still unclear which countries are all involved. There have been many search and rescue efforts taking place by many thousands of Nepalese troops and police.
What Caused the Nepal Flash Flood Disaster?
The disaster started early morning on Wednesday at about 8:40 am as flash floods and landslides hit the mountainous border area.
A massive amount of water, debris, and rock flowed through the valley of Lhende Khola river causing damage to homes and infrastructure. There were at least 19 bridges and 40 kilometers of roads that got washed away, thus cutting off access to some areas that were affected by the disaster.
The Nepalese government has employed helicopters, drones, search dogs, and many people in the efforts to find the survivors and recover dead bodies.
What Caused the Collapse of the Glacier?
The floods seem to have come from the upper Himalayas as a result of the collapse of a glacier there.
The satellite pictures showed that there was a large portion of lower glacier that had collapsed from a height of about 5,200 meters falling 1,200 meters down and accumulating rocks and sediment on its way.
The resulting ice-rock avalanche crashed into the Lhende river in Tibet. The debris blocked the river forming a natural dam that later broke causing the flood.
Early reports indicated that there was an earthquake causing the collapse, but further studies carried out by the United States Geological Survey revealed that the seismic wave detected resulted from the landslide and not an earthquake.
Where Did the Nepal Floods Occur?
Some of the worst affected areas included Rasuwa District right next to the Chinese border.
The two areas that were affected include Timure and Syapru Besi with flooding continuing downstream to some parts of Nuwakot and Dhading. It is said that the water level in Trishuli River increased by up to 9 meters in just 30 minutes.
On the other side of the border, the mud and debris flowed all the way to Gyirong Port, located in Shigatse region of Tibet.
The river system connects to Narayani River, which then enters Bihar State in India as Gandak River.
How Many People Have Been Rescued?
At least 65 injured people were under treatment in the hospitals of Nepal and Kathmandu.
Over 5,000 Nepalese army and police forces have been mobilized. Air searches for the victims are underway with helicopters ferrying supplies to the people affected.
How Is the World Reacting?
Global aid has already arrived in Nepal.
India has dispatched a plane containing 10 tonnes of emergency goods such as shelters, blankets, hygienic items, solar lamps, and medicines. In addition, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has provided 1 million Swiss francs in emergency assistance.
The UN is assisting the relief operations, whereas the European Union has activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service to offer satellite mapping for the affected regions.
The US is sending a disaster response advisor, providing $500,000 in assistance, whereas South Korea is forming a rapid-response team after reports about missing citizens of the country.
Is Climate Change Responsible for the Nepal Flood?
Scientists have yet to identify any connection between climate change and the particular glacier collapse.
However, the event happened against the backdrop of fast warming and glacial melting in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Glaciers in the area were melting at a much faster rate during 2011-2020 compared to the previous decade, whereas glaciers in Nepal lost almost one-third of their volume in three decades.
Researchers are still investigating if unusual warming and the lack of snow have played some role in the destabilization of the glacier.
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