A month after a devastating flood swept through Nepal, the country is struggling to come to terms with the scale of the disaster. On August 26, a high-altitude glacial mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border triggered a tsunami-like flood that cut a swathe of destruction through the Himalayan nation. The disaster has left 1,451 bodies recovered and over 5,700 people missing, including hundreds of workers from hydropower projects and foreigners.
The flood was caused by a mass of ice and rock that broke away from the north face of Nepal's Langtang Lirung mountain, sending a huge mass of debris racing down the valley. The debris travelled about 20 kilometres, dropping 1,700 metres at Rasuwagadhi in only seven minutes. According to Sudan Bikash Maharjan, a geologist with the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, the elevation difference was high, and the debris rushed down like a "bullet train".
The disaster has affected more than 80,000 people, with thousands living in emergency shelters. The United Nations has launched an urgent appeal for nearly $50 million in emergency aid. Many communities near the epicentre remain cut off, with the UN and the Nepali government delivering supplies by helicopter and cargo drone. Several countries have pledged financial support for Nepal, but the amount is far below the scale of the disaster.
Rescue operations have been ongoing, with hundreds of rescuers deployed by helicopter to dig through mud and debris in search of survivors. There have been rare breakthroughs, including the rescue of three workers - two Nepalis and a Chinese man - who were trapped in tunnels under construction. One of them, 30-year-old Sanjay Sah, survived 10 days in darkness by drinking muddy water and praying.
The economic impact of the disaster is significant, with Nepal estimating the reconstruction bill will amount to $4.78 billion. The floods have cut Nepal's electricity generation capacity by 10 percent, with the energy sector accounting for half of the total infrastructure damage from the disaster. The country's economy is already under pressure, with limited resources to respond to a disaster of this scale.
Climate change has been identified as a contributing factor to the disaster. Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group said the disaster was not caused by a single extreme weather event, but a "compound crisis" shaped by long-term warming, glacier retreat, permafrost thaw, and geological instability. Nepal's leaders are urging the world to recognise the dangers of climate change and act quickly.
The identification of victims has proved a major challenge for Nepali authorities, with morgues overwhelmed and many bodies buried in mass graves after their DNA was recorded. So far, only about 100 bodies have been identified. On the Chinese side, state media have reported 43 deaths and 519 people missing. The disaster has highlighted the need for long-term international support to help Nepal adapt to a rapidly changing mountain environment.
Key points
- The flood was caused by a high-altitude glacial mountain collapse triggered by climate change.
- The disaster has affected over 80,000 people, with thousands in need of aid.
- The reconstruction bill is estimated to be $4.78 billion.
