One dead, 17 missing as Nepal flood destroys China border bridge
One person has been confirmed dead and 17 others are listed as missing in the floods on the Bhotekoshi river, said Arjun Paudel, chief district officer of Rasuwa district.
The wall of water that hit Tuesday morning also swept away one of the main bridges linking Nepal and China.
Eleven Nepalis and six Chinese people are among the missing, Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.
Deadly floods and landslides are common across South Asia during the monsoon season from June to September but experts say climate change is making them worse.
The UN's World Meteorological Organization said last year that increasingly intense floods and droughts are a 'distress signal' of what is to come as climate change makes the planet's water cycle ever more unpredictable.
The Katmandu-based International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) warned in June that communities face heightened disaster risks this monsoon season.
'Rising temperatures and more extreme rain raise the risk of water-induced disasters such as floods, landslides, and debris flows,' ICIMOD said.
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Al Arabiya
18 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Texas floodwaters damaged crops and endangered livestock. Now farmers and ranchers are cleaning up
Across a wide swath of Texas, the inundated rivers that ravaged communities also tore through farms and ranches. In the town of Bend, about two hours north of Austin, Boyd Clark waded into rising waters to help one of his stranded ostrich hens. Matthew Ketterman spent several agonizing hours trapped on top of his truck amid coursing rapids after driving out to check the fences on his exotic game ranch outside Burnet, about an hour south of Bend. And the overflowing San Gabriel River knocked Christmas trees sideways, and staff had to get petting zoo animals into a temporary pen at Sweet Eats Adventure Farm in Georgetown, about 65 miles east of Ketterman's ranch. As authorities work to understand the extent of the loss of human life–as of Friday, at least 120 people were killed, more than 160 missing–farmers and ranchers are working to assess damage to their properties, crops, and animals. Many are facing the task of caring for livestock while salvaging what crops they can and cleaning up the wreckage. While many farmers lean on a relentless optimism to get through the uncertainty of relying on the weather for a living, extreme weather disasters like catastrophic floods, droughts, and wildfires can take a toll. The weather events also pose unique challenges to those who rely on seasonal tourist rushes or who might not have crop insurance. It's a double-edged sword: as some farmers turn to agritourism or niche crops to weather unpredictable markets, climate change is also intensifying many of the natural disasters that can make it more difficult for those experiments to succeed. Even the larger operations are not immune; farmers who produce all kinds of crops must plan for emergencies. 'We expect it to happen again. It's never a question of if but when,' said Jon Meredith, co-owner of Sweet Eats, an agritourism outfit that mainly grows Christmas trees. 'And so we just continue to try to mitigate our losses and reduce our risk around events like this.' Still surveying the damage and starting repairs, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said there has been so much rain so quickly that some farmers are seeing complete loss or severe damage to their crops and infrastructure in several counties and beyond the banks of overflowing rivers. 'We've had farm equipment washed down the river. We've had tractors underwater, so they're totaled, won't be able to use those. Irrigation equipment wadded up like a bowl of spaghetti,' Miller told The Associated Press. 'We're finding cattle dead on top of trees downriver. So it's pretty devastating.' Miller said there are resources available for farmers. Those include the State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund, which helps farmers access disaster funding; the Hay and Feed Hotline, which donates animal feed; and the AgriStress Helpline that provides 24/7 mental health support. Now comes the task of cleanup: repair miles of destroyed fence line, tally lost livestock, and move debris from foliage and mud to piled-up picnic tables. After a harrowing night waiting for hours to be rescued, Ketterman, who had gotten stuck on his vehicle, felt lucky to be alive. But he and his team were also grieving the loss of a member who died in the flooding on his way to work. They lost some animals to the churning water as well. 'We're in the hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage, but you know at the end of the day that's just monetary and we'll recover from that,' he said. Disasters like floods can be tough for specialty farmers. Small farms that offer experiences to visitors, don't sell to wholesalers, or don't have crop insurance are especially vulnerable, said Hannah Burrack, professor and chair of the entomology department at Michigan State University, who has worked with fruit farmers in the aftermath of floods. Clark said ostrich growers can access some US Department of Agriculture programs that cover the loss of grass that birds graze on, but otherwise there isn't much assistance. Ostriches also get too cold in heavy rain, and it cuts down egg production; the hens almost stop laying eggs, and mud and water can ruin what few they do. 'It does definitely affect our production this year and our profitability,' Clark said. Burrack said that other crops for consumption, like fruits and vegetables, that get submerged can no longer be sold. Unharvested plants in fields can build up, causing pest issues or creating an unpleasant experience for visitors. And once submerged, long-term echoes of these short-term stressors can make trees more vulnerable to disease. Meredith said Sweet Eats was lucky; the Christmas season is still months away, and they still had a chance to put the trees back up. They would've had a harder time if they were still doing peach trees like they used to. 'Because so much of our stuff is pick-your-own, so if we can't be open for customers, then it magnifies the challenges that we face because of cash flow issues,' he said. All farms need to plan for emergencies and climate change. It's not just floods: farms across the country have taken hits due to extreme weather in recent years. Wildfires have damped farm-based businesses in California, including pick-your-own apple orchards in the southern part of the state and wineries in the north. An unusually warm winter had Midwestern maple syrup producers scrambling in 2024, while pinching drought has hit pumpkins along with many other crops across the West. 'It's good business sense to observe how climate change might affect your operation and make adjustments accordingly,' said Rob Leeds, an extension educator at Ohio State University who works with farmers, especially those interested in agritourism. 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When you live on a river, it's beautiful and enjoyable, but there are occasionally times where things can go south very quickly.'
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Climate change makes South Asia's monsoon season more prone to floods, landslides and heavy rains
BENGALURU: Each year from June to September, a series of heavy rains known as monsoons, sweep through the Indian subcontinent, providing relief from heat, irrigating the country's farms and replenishing its rivers. However, as global heat increases, the rain is becoming more erratic and intense, creating the conditions for deadly floods. Nearly 1,300 people died in India throughout 2024 due to heavy rain and floods. Hundreds of rain-related deaths have already occurred this year in the South Asian region, which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives and Nepal. Climate experts say the high temperatures and heavy rain are also contributing to the melting of glaciers in the mountainous Himalayan region, causing catastrophic flooding and landslides. MONSOON BECOMES MORE DANGEROUS The South Asian region has traditionally had two monsoon seasons. One typically lasts from June to September, with rains moving southwest to northeast. The other, from roughly October to December, moves in the opposite direction. But with more planet-warming gases in the air, the rain now only loosely follows this pattern. This is because the warmer air can hold more moisture from the Indian Ocean, and that rain then tends to get dumped all at once. It means the monsoon is punctuated with intense flooding and dry spells, rather than sustained rain throughout. 'We are witnessing a clear climatic shift in monsoon patterns across South Asia,' said Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune and author of several United Nations climate reports. Traditionally, people in India and neighboring countries excitedly awaited the monsoon rains, which would finally mean the end of summer heat. But attitudes are changing as disasters increase during the rainy seasons. 'The frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events are increasing, often overwhelming drainage infrastructure in urban areas and triggering flash floods,' Koll said. Higher temperatures and longer periods of drought are also making farming harder in South Asia, climate experts said. 'More than 60 percent of the people in South Asia are dependent on agriculture, and almost all of them are dependent on monsoon rainfall,' said Finu Shrestha, a climate scientist at Katmandu, Nepal-based International Center for Integrated Mountain Development. MOUNTAIN REGIONS SEE MORE GLACIAL LAKES OVERFLOWING A 2023 report by Shrestha's organization found that glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates across the Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain ranges. The study found that at least 200 of the more than 2,000 glacial lakes in the region are at risk of overflowing, which can cause catastrophic damage downstream. Heavy monsoon rains can exacerbate the problem. 'A lot of the mountain areas tend to have more warming than the global average, resulting in more glaciers melting,' said Miriam Jackson, glaciologist at the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative. An October 2023 glacial lake overflow in the Indian state of Sikkim triggered flooding that killed 55 people and damaged bridges, buildings and a hydropower dam that was under construction. Heavy rainfall and increasing heat are leading to snow and ice avalanches, rockfalls and other events that can trigger the lakes to breach or overflow, Shrestha said. 'Even small glacial lakes are now breaching and causing damage,' she said. EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS CAN HELP Installing early warning systems and building in less risky areas can help reduce damage from heavy rains, climate experts say. 'If you know a flood is coming, then people can get to higher ground and there could be a sort of standard early warning system along a river that sends out a siren,' Jackson said, adding that social media and messaging applications can help people spread warnings to those downstream. Koll, the Pune-based scientist, said that rapid urbanization, shrinking floodplains and loss of natural drainage also exacerbate damage from heavy rains. Koll said that most government response currently comes after disasters, and there is a lack of long-term planning. 'In the future monsoon, extreme rains are projected to intensify further, in addition to sporadic water shortages. Hence, we need proactive, long-term strategies that combine science, policy, and community engagement,' he said. Jackson said the biggest issue, however, is to try to reduce emissions of planet-heating gases because there are limits to adapting to extreme weather. 'If we continue with, you know, business as usual, and we have the same kind of emissions, then the world is going to keep on getting warmer and there will be more intense rain and floods. At some point, we could go beyond the limits of adaptation,' she said.
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Here are some things you can do to be better prepared for major flooding
Catastrophic floods can be difficult to prepare for. Sometimes evacuation is the right call, but if it's too late, the best bet is to find higher ground nearby. The stakes can be high because a flash flood may give those in its path only minutes or seconds to react. The right moves depend on the storm and the geography, said James Doss-Gollin, an assistant professor who teaches civil and environmental engineering at Rice University. For example, the advice won't be the same for people who live near a beach and those who live by a river, he said. 'Some places you're worried about the water moving really fast in the river. Some places you're worried about roads getting flooded, but the water might not be moving very fast. So often your local community is going to have the best information,' he said. Regardless of the storm or where it's happening, Richina Bicette-McCain, an emergency physician with Baylor College of Medicine, said preparation is key. 'One of my favorite phrases is, 'if you stay ready, then you don't have to get ready,'' she said. If you live in the United States, make sure the National Weather Service's automatic weather alerts on your phone are activated. If you live in another country, find out what the weather agency is and how they provide alerts. If you don't have a phone or it's not working, the weather service recommends NOAA Weather Radio, local news coverage, and listening for the Emergency Alert System on TV and radio broadcasts. These alerts typically include a few key phrases that indicate how serious the threat is. Here's a quick glossary:1. Flood watch: Hazardous weather is possible. Be prepared.2. Flood advisory: Flooding is expected to be inconvenient but not necessarily dangerous. Be aware.3. Flood warning: Hazardous weather is imminent or already happening. Take action.4. Flash flood warning: Flooding is imminent or already happening, and the flood is especially sudden or violent. You might only have seconds to find higher ground.5. Flash flood emergency: There's a severe threat to human life, and catastrophic damage is about to happen or is already happening. This is exceedingly rare, and at this point, officials are typically reporting evacuations and rescues. Doss-Gollin said before the National Weather Service issues a warning or emergency alert, it's important for people to know where the nearest high places are that will not flood, so evacuees can move quickly if needed. Bicette-McCain has her go-bag ready and refreshed every hurricane season that includes flashlights, spare batteries, food, and water. And she said patients seeking medical care in flood emergencies typically face one of two problems: either they can't use their regular medications or medical devices once the power goes out, or they're dehydrated. So she said the most important items to throw in are medications, batteries, and lots of drinking water. 'I don't know if you've ever been so thirsty that you're just desperate for a morsel of liquid to drink, but sometimes people get into that situation, and they'll resort to drinking flood water. And if you survive the flood, the implications of drinking flood water may be what does you in,' she said. The National Weather Service, FEMA, and American Red Cross all have emergency go-bag recommendations that include personal hygiene items, warm blankets, and a whistle to signal for help. Doss-Gollin's go-bag includes diapers and milk for his baby and a weather radio that's designed to pick up radio frequencies from far away in case the power is out or the local tower goes down. 'We have one that's hand-crank, which I really like because I'm not going to check the batteries on those every couple of months to make sure that they're working,' he said. Once the storm has arrived, find out what local officials are recommending and follow their instructions. 'If it's time to evacuate, do it before the storm comes. We see a lot of casualties from people attempting to stay at their home,' Bicette-McCain said. 'Don't be that person.' Bicette-McCain said it is never a good idea to touch the stormwater because it is impossible to know how contaminated it is. The only exception is if the space you're in is so dangerous that you have to trudge through water to get somewhere safer. In that case, she recommended finding an umbrella or big stick to judge how deep the water is or whether there is debris in front of you. 'We're talking very turbulent, very putrid waters that you can't see through,' she said. If it's too late to evacuate, don't. Trying can be fatal. Just 6 inches (15 centimeters) of moving water can knock a person down, and a foot of moving water can move a car. 'Very often the people that die during floods … are driving across bridges or they're trying to drive through water,' Doss-Gollin said. The one piece of advice that everyone will give you is, 'don't drive through floodwaters ever.'
