Floods and landslides hit Nepal

A major disaster struck Rasuwa in Nepal on August 26, when a powerful flood and subsequent landslide overwhelmed the Nepal-Tibet border post of Gyirong, causing at least 7,000 victims. The event was described as one of the most severe in recent history, with floodwaters carrying people as far as 180 kilometers downstream.

Rescue efforts and child impact

Military and police forces rescued nearly 14,000 people, often sheltering them on steep slopes. According to the Ministry of Education, 9,430 children are directly affected by the loss of a parent or the destruction of their home or school, while UNICEF reported that 17,000 children require mental health support. The floods damaged or destroyed 35 schools.

Second disaster in October

A deadly landslide occurred again on October 11 in another mountainous region, even though the majority of those who died on August 26 have not yet been identified. The disaster highlighted the inability of previous governments to deal with climate change, despite warnings from the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) since 2015.

Cause of the landslide

A piece of ice and rock detached from the north face of the Langtang Lirung mountain, at about 5,200 meters altitude, and plunged about 800 meters lower onto a glacier. This caused a mud and debris flow at the Gyiron border post with China-occupied Tibet, which overflowed the usually peaceful mountain torrent of the Trishuli River.

Impact on China and international response

The disaster caused an unknown number of victims in China: at least 43 dead and between 260 and more than 500 missing officially, although the actual numbers may differ. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered "the mobilization of all means" to rescue the injured and minimize human losses. Nepalese authorities, warned by Chinese authorities, cautioned that the deadly torrent might continue downstream and requested foreign aid to be provided through a list of needs identified by public authorities.

International aid and economic impact

International press agencies linked the event to similar risks elsewhere in Nepal and other Himalayan countries. President Donald Trump committed to providing Nepal "everything it would need," as did Australia through international organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and India. The World Bank estimated the damage caused by the disaster at about 2.7 billion dollars, while national authorities estimated funding needs for reconstruction at 4.8 billion USD.

Infrastructure damage and economic loss

The Bank identified three main channels: energy, logistics and transport, and tourism. Fifteen hydroelectric facilities affected by the floods had cost 3.4 billion euros and would produce or were to produce 753 MW (10.6% of installed capacity). The Rasuwagadhi corridor, damaged, represents 11% of Nepal's imports from China.

Climate change and political response

The disaster was described by some as a predictable event, far from unexpected, even if some doubted the authenticity of the images before their eyes. The tragedy is not only the flooding, but that it is hard to believe, was it not "augmented reality," asks its founder, Kunda Dixit. In power for barely six months, the RSP (Rastriya Swatantra Party) has faced this phenomenon of epic proportions.

Vulnerability and climate challenges

The disaster highlighted the vulnerability of Nepal in the face of its three large neighbors, China, India, and Pakistan. Climate change, although not primarily caused by Nepal, was not anticipated by public authorities, despite the warnings from ICIMOD. The smoke caused by slash-and-burn, brick baking, factories that create a greenhouse effect, and anarchic car traffic throughout South Asia are among the causes of glacial melting, which is twice as fast in the Himalayas as at ground level.

Global climate efforts and future plans

Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah, attending the United Nations Week, reminded that his country was responsible for only 0.05% of greenhouse gases, but it is among those who suffer the most. He proposed the creation of a "Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism," including Nepal as well as China and India, which would allow them to share satellite data and expertise, monitor glacial lakes, and strengthen common early warning systems.

UN fund and relocation plans

A UN fund for losses and damages, created in 2022 following the catastrophic floods in Pakistan, has not yet made its first payment and suffers from a serious funding shortfall. The Nepalese disaster could constitute the first "real test" for the coordinators of this fund. The government plans to declare the riverine areas and other areas affected by the disaster "unfit for habitation" and is working to relocate schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure.

Future glacial lake drainage

It also plans to launch a major operation starting in the 2026 fiscal year aimed at draining four glacial lakes located in the high mountains with the support of the Green Climate Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).