Consequences of Nepal Floods Captured from Space
World
Roscosmos has released satellite images of Nepal’s Trishuli River taken on July 9 and August 28, before and after the devastating floods. Captured from an altitude of about 500 kilometers, the images show the river overflowing its banks and inundating surrounding areas.
According to the latest figures, the disaster has claimed 1,252 lives, while 4,875 people remain missing. Twelve Russian nationals are among those reported missing.
The disaster began on August 26, when a glacier collapse in Nepal temporarily blocked the Lhende-Khola River. After the resulting blockage gave way, a powerful flow of water, mud, rocks and ice surged downstream, causing extensive destruction in northern Nepal.
The disaster has also highlighted problems with Nepal’s early warning system. The Kathmandu Post reported that a warning about an avalanche in the mountains was issued nearly 40 minutes after the disaster struck. Experts said the possibility of accurately predicting the event in real time was extremely limited because Nepal lacks a unified early warning system.
Following the disaster, Nepal decided to strengthen its disaster monitoring system along the border with China. The system is to be equipped with seismic sensors, cameras and satellite communications. Dharma Raj Upreti, head of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), said new monitoring stations and cameras would make it possible to receive real-time data on river flows and send SMS alerts to residents in the event of natural disasters.
The disaster began on August 26, when a glacier collapse in Nepal temporarily blocked the Lhende-Khola River. After the resulting blockage gave way, a powerful flow of water, mud, rocks and ice surged downstream, causing extensive destruction in northern Nepal.
The disaster has also highlighted problems with Nepal’s early warning system. The Kathmandu Post reported that a warning about an avalanche in the mountains was issued nearly 40 minutes after the disaster struck. Experts said the possibility of accurately predicting the event in real time was extremely limited because Nepal lacks a unified early warning system.
Following the disaster, Nepal decided to strengthen its disaster monitoring system along the border with China. The system is to be equipped with seismic sensors, cameras and satellite communications. Dharma Raj Upreti, head of Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), said new monitoring stations and cameras would make it possible to receive real-time data on river flows and send SMS alerts to residents in the event of natural disasters.
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