Why is Nepal so prone to floods?published at 05:28 BST
05:28 BST
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption,
Locals are still dealing with the aftermath of deadly floods along Nepal’s Trishuli River in August
Along the borders of Nepal are the Himalayas, the world’s tallest mountain range and one of the main drivers of the country’s tourism industry.
But high mountain environments can be unpredictable, and floods often happen when landslides and avalanches cause sudden surges in rivers downstream.
Nepal is also prone to earthquakes, which can destabilise snow and ice on the mountains. In 2015, nearly 9,000 people were killed after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal, triggering deadly avalanches on Mount Everest.
More recently, the floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, which killed hundreds of people and left thousands missing, were caused by a rock-ice avalanche near the peak of Langtang Lirung, a mountain on Nepal’s side of the Himalayas.
Experts say climate change, which is making glaciers melt faster, is likely increasing the risks of such disasters. And as the mountain environments become even more volatile, communities living there are left increasingly vulnerable.