Glacier collapse at 8.37am, alert at 9.15: Why Nepal sent disaster warning 38 mins late
Nepal's disaster warning system is under scrutiny after a 38-minute delay in alerting residents to a deadly glacier collapse. Experts highlight that the current system is fragmented and lacks the integrated, automated communication necessary for cascading Himalayan disasters.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the critical need for comprehensive, cross-border disaster management infrastructure in regions vulnerable to climate-related geological events.
Nepal’s warning system came under scrutiny after a glacier collapse triggered devastating flash floods in Rasuwa on August 26, with authorities issuing a disaster alert 38 minutes after the ice-rock avalanche. The deadly floods have killed thousands and several remain missing.The collapse struck the Lhende valley near the Nepal-Tibet border at 8.37am, sending a rapid surge of water, debris and boulders downstream. Communities were caught off guard, with survivors relying largely on instinct and help from neighbours to escape, according to a report in the Kathmandu Post.Scientists said predicting the specific glacier collapse was difficult and the steep terrain gave authorities little time to respond. However, the disaster exposed a wider weakness: Nepal’s warning systems are largely built around individual hazards even as Himalayan disasters increasingly involve cascading and cross-border risks.“There is no such thing as an early warning system in Nepal.
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