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The Star
10-07-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Tibetan glacial lake drainage triggered deadly flood in Nepal, climate body says
A member of the Nepalese army airlifts people stranded during the flood at Bhotekoshi river, Nepal, July 8, 2025. -Nepal Army/Handout via Reuters KATHMANDU: The deadly flood in Nepal's Bhote Koshi River that killed at least nine people and left more than two dozen missing this week was triggered by the draining of a supraglacial lake in the Tibet region of China, a regional climate monitoring body said on Wednesday (July 9). At least 19 people, including six Chinese workers at the Beijing-aided Inland Container Depot, remain missing in Nepal after Tuesday's floods that also washed away the 'Friendship Bridge' that links Nepal and China. China's official Xinhua news agency has said 11 people were unaccounted for on the Chinese side of the mountainous border region. The Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said satellite imagery showed the flood originated from the draining of the lake north of Nepal's Langtang Himal range. "This is based on the preliminary analysis based on the available satellite images," Sudan Maharjan, a remote sensing analyst and expert of glaciers at ICIMOD, told Reuters. A supraglacial lake is formed on the surface of glaciers, particularly in debris-covered areas. It often begins as small meltwater ponds that gradually expand and sometimes merge to form a larger supraglacial lake, experts say. Saswata Sanyal, another ICIMOD official, said such events were increasing at an "unprecedented" pace in the Hindu Kush mountains that are spread across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. "We need to delve deeper into the triggers that are resulting in cascading impacts," Sanyal said. The June-September monsoon causes massive floods and landslides in mountainous Nepal which, officials and experts say, is vulnerable to effects of climate change like extreme weather patterns, inconsistent rainfall, flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods. This year's early monsoon rains have inflicted deadly damage elsewhere in Nepal where at least 38 people have been killed or are missing since May 29, according to data from the government's National Disaster Relief, Reduction and Management Authority. - Reuters
Times of Oman
10-07-2025
- Climate
- Times of Oman
Flash flood devastates Nepal-China border; Nine dead,19 missing as rescue ops continue
Rasuwa [Nepal]: The flash flood that took place along the Nepal-China border on Tuesday has left behind a trail of devastation, disrupting lives and infrastructure and leaving at least nine people dead and 19 others missing. The flood was triggered by a sudden surge from Tibet's Lhende River that had buried vehicles under debris and swept away roads in the region. Three days after the disaster, the Rasuwagadhi-Timure region remains completely cut off from the outside world. The Nepal Army, along with local residents, is navigating dangerous slopes to access the area. Electricity, internet, and telephone services have been down since Tuesday, and the trauma of the event continues to haunt survivors. "I was trapped in the area across the river due to the flood. I had warned my friends to get across, but the flood swept them away, and I survived by going to the upper land areas that day (Tuesday)," Ram Bahadur Tharu, a survivor of the flooding along the Nepal-China border, told ANI. Ram Bahadur, one of the seven survivors from a group of 13, recounted the harrowing moments of Tuesday's flash flood. Six of his companions have been missing since that morning, with no signs of their whereabouts. Footage from the disaster site reveals the scale of destruction--collapsed infrastructure, including the Miteri Bridge that once linked Nepal and China, and container trucks and electric vehicles tossed around like toys. Over 1,100 metres of road across ten different locations have been severely damaged. Four hydropower plants have sustained extensive destruction, while local officials report that the region's dry port has been rendered inoperative. Efforts to restore access and begin recovery have been severely hampered by the inability to bring in heavy machinery. "We were not given any alert or warning about the flood. We felt as if an earthquake had struck the region as the flooding started. We rushed out from our room and saw the river increasing," Tharu added. The devastating flood along the Nepal-China border was likely caused by intense rainfall and a possible glacial lake outburst on the Chinese side, leading to a rapid rise in the Bhotekoshi River. Due to the absence of a real-time data-sharing system with China, Nepali authorities were unaware of the impending disaster until the floodwaters reached Betrawati, the border point between Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The sudden deluge swept away vital infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and hydropower facilities, as well as numerous vehicles. Several container trucks and electric vehicles parked at the Rasuwagadhi dry port were also destroyed. Among the worst-hit was the Friendship Bridge, a crucial trade link between Nepal and Tibet, whose destruction has brought cross-border transit and trade to a standstill. Rescue operations are continuing, with teams working around the clock to evacuate those stranded in the affected areas. According to Arjun Paudel, Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, 150 individuals--including 127 foreign nationals--had been rescued by Thursday morning. "Disruption in electricity and telephone services in the area has made the rescue operation harder. There is very limited communication through the Chinese border, and along with rescue operations, efforts are underway to restore telephone connectivity and resume electricity supply," Paudel told ANI over the phone. Authorities fear that several of the missing individuals may have been swept away or buried under debris in the customs yard. Search and rescue operations are ongoing; however, progress is being hindered by impassable roads and the unavailability of heavy machinery in the disaster-hit area.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Tibetan glacial lake drainage triggered deadly flood in Nepal, climate body says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A member of the Nepalese army airlifts people stranded during the flood at Bhotekoshi river, Nepal, July 8, 2025. Nepal Army/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo KATHMANDU - The deadly flood in Nepal's Bhote Koshi River that killed at least nine people and left more than two dozen missing this week was triggered by the draining of a supraglacial lake in the Tibet region of China, a regional climate monitoring body said on Wednesday. At least 19 people, including six Chinese workers at the Beijing-aided Inland Container Depot, remain missing in Nepal after Tuesday's floods that also washed away the 'Friendship Bridge' that links Nepal and China. China's official Xinhua news agency has said 11 people were unaccounted for on the Chinese side of the mountainous border region. The Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said satellite imagery showed the flood originated from the draining of the lake north of Nepal's Langtang Himal range. "This is based on the preliminary analysis based on the available satellite images," Sudan Maharjan, a remote sensing analyst and expert of glaciers at ICIMOD, told Reuters. A supraglacial lake is formed on the surface of glaciers, particularly in debris-covered areas. It often begins as small meltwater ponds that gradually expand and sometimes merge to form a larger supraglacial lake, experts say. Saswata Sanyal, another ICIMOD official, said such events were increasing at an "unprecedented" pace in the Hindu Kush mountains that are spread across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Asia Dr Mahathir at 100: Still haunted by the Malay Dilemma Singapore What's next for PSP following its post-GE leadership shake-up? Singapore 'Give a positive review': Hidden AI prompt found in academic paper by NUS researchers Singapore NDP 2025: Diamond formations, 'multi-axis' fly-past to headline parade's aerial display Business New Career Health SG initiative launched to support both S'pore workers and employers Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore Apex court upholds SMC's conviction of doctor who gave patients unapproved hormones "We need to delve deeper into the triggers that are resulting in cascading impacts," Sanyal said. The June-September monsoon causes massive floods and landslides in mountainous Nepal which, officials and experts say, is vulnerable to effects of climate change like extreme weather patterns, inconsistent rainfall, flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods. This year's early monsoon rains have inflicted deadly damage elsewhere in Nepal where at least 38 people have been killed or are missing since May 29, according to data from the government's National Disaster Relief, Reduction and Management Authority. REUTERS
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Business Standard
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Business Standard
20 missing as floods wash away Nepal-China border bridge in Rasuwa
At least 20 people were missing after a river flooded by monsoon rains on Tuesday washed away the Friendship Bridge connecting Nepal with China. The continuous monsoon rainfall in China on Monday night triggered a flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Nepal. The Miteri Bridge in Rasuwa district, 120 km northeast of Kathmandu, was swept away by flooding at around 3:15 am on Tuesday. Twenty people, including six Chinese nationals, have gone missing, official sources said. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 55 people, including four Indian nationals and one Chinese, were rescued by the joint team of Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli visited the flood-affected areas near the Nepal-China border, including parts of Rasuwa district. He was accompanied by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel. Oli in a social media post said the government is working on a war-footing to rescue those affected by the devastating floods in Rasuwa. Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property due to the floods in the Lhende Stream and Trishuli River, he said, All concerned authorities have been instructed to ensure effective rescue and relief operations. The prime minister said he has postponed all pre-scheduled programmes, except the most essential ones, to focus on coordinating emergency relief efforts and is in constant contact with security agencies to monitor ongoing rescue operations. There are heartbreaking reports of casualties, missing persons, and significant physical damage," Oli said. Arjun Paudel, chief district officer of Rasuwa, said the flood caused heavy damage. Authorities have advised residents downstream to move to safer areas. The flooding also swept away several houses and five electric vehicles imported from China. Police recovered two bodies from the Trishuli River in Gajuri Rural Municipality of Dhading district on Tuesday morning. Their identities could not be ascertained. The Nepal Army's rescue team has also rescued 23 labourers, including a Chinese national, who were stranded at the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower project after the area was submerged due to the flood triggered by the heavy rain. The hydropower plant was also partially damaged due to the flood, according to local authorities. Meanwhile, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in a report released on Tuesday said excessive rainfall was not the real cause behind the flash flood in Rasuwa district. It is too early to determine the exact cause of the flood event in Rasuwa... However, it can be confirmed that extreme rainfall was not the cause, it said. A comprehensive investigation is required, but for that, we need to wait for monsoon cloud cover to clear first to obtain satellite imagery for detailed analysis, ICIMOD said. A multi-disciplinary team consisting of geologists, glaciologists, hydrometeorologists and remote sensing analysts should jointly undertake a study to determine the actual cause of the flood, it said. While a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) or a Landslide Lake Outburst Flood (LLOF) is suspected, there is no conclusive evidence yet, the ICIMOD report said. "While it is too soon to say what caused the massive floods in Rasuwa... what we do know with absolute certainty is that global temperature rise is driving increases in the frequency, ferocity, and complexity of mountain hazards," ICIMOD Director General Pema Gyamtsho said. "In June alone, three lake outbursts (one thermokarst lake in Tilgaun, Humla, Nepal, one GLOF in Andorab valley, Afghanistan, Chitral, Hunza, Pakistan) have torn through our region, on top of horrific floods in India and Pakistan; tragically confirming our Monsoon Outlook's predictions of a high-hazard summer, he said.
New York Times
08-07-2025
- Climate
- New York Times
Deadly Flash Floods Sweep Away Nepal-China Bridge
Flash floods killed at least three people and swept away the main bridge connecting Nepal to China, officials said on Tuesday, as search and rescue efforts continued for missing people. The floods, which began early Tuesday, struck the Rasuwa district, where the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge is. Officials said their initial assessment showed extensive damage to the customs yard at the border crossing, where hundreds of vehicles and cargo containers were parked. There were also reports of power outages from damaged hydropower plants. Nepal's army and police used helicopters to rescue nine people, as the search for others continued. The police said missing people included three police personnel, nine Nepali civilians and six Chinese nationals. The police officers were swept away when they were trying to help in the rescue, according to Binod Ghimire, a spokesman for the Nepal police. He said most of the civilians from both sides were drivers who helped transport goods at the border crossing. Nepal's mountainous terrain is vulnerable to flash floods. Disasters have gotten deadlier in recent years in part because of changing climate patterns. Erratic rainfall, floods, landslides, avalanches and glacial lake outbursts are becoming more serious. Last year, 495 people died due to monsoon-related disasters, according to a government authority. The monsoon season, which begins in early June and ends in September, causes massive floods and landslides, affecting people reliant on agriculture. This year's monsoon rains have also inflicted deadly damage on the Indian side of the Himalayas. The worst situation was in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, where close to 80 people died and at least 35 were missing in incidents related to flash floods and landslides since June 20. Over the past 24 hours, at least 14 people have been killed in incidents related to heavy rains and floods across five states, a portal of the Indian home ministry showed. Mujib Mashal and Hari Kumar contributed reporting from New Delhi.
