A lake formed by a landslide on the Nepal-Tibet border has started to overflow, putting at risk areas devastated by a flash flood two days ago and forcing a temporary halt to rescue efforts, authorities in China and Nepal have said. Residents in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, on the border with Tibet, were seen rushing up hillsides to escape any surge in the river level, according to a witnesses. Authorities in Nepal have stopped rescue operations for at least 90 minutes, an army officer said. The risk of the lake bursting…
Tag: Landslides
Nepal-Tibet flash flood live updates: death toll rises to 469, police say; debris-clogged river at risk of flooding again
From 28m ago Nepal death toll rises to 469, police say Nepal police have said that the death toll from Wednesday’s flash flood now stands at 469. It’s a jump of 80 since the last reported update, and comes as search teams continue recovery efforts across the disaster-struck area. More than 1,300 remain missing, including hundreds of tourists from India, the US, Britain, Australia and Canada. Efforts to locate those unaccounted for have been complicated by the destruction of dozens of bridges and 40km (25 miles) of roads in the…
Nepal-Tibet flash flood: what we know so far on day three
Nepal and China both warned of new flooding risks in the Himalayas because of two lakes that have developed along debris-choked rivers on either side of their border. Nepal’s disaster authority said water levels were rising in a lake formed by debris clogging a flooded site and that it was at risk of bursting its banks. It did not name the specific site. Chinese authorities warned that a newly formed lake at the confluence of the Tsogyal and the Purupqiangzangbu rivers was overflowing and might burst. More than 500 foreign…
Nepal-Tibet flash flood: what we know so far
An earthquake was initially thought to be the cause; but by Thursday the US Geological Survey (USGS) said “a glacial collapse” was responsible for the disaster. “This event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake. Additional analysis of nearby seismic stations, long period seismic waves, and satellite imagery led to the determination that the seismic event was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow, and that no earthquake had occurred.” The USGS first reported the seismic jolt early on Wednesday about 66km (41 miles) north of Kathmandu, near the…
Geologically complex regions more prone to landslides, study suggests
We know that steep slopes and heavy rain help to trigger landslides, but are some types of landscape more susceptible than others? A study suggests that geologically complex regions are more likely to produce landslides. Yifan Zhang, from the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment in Chengdu, China, and colleagues developed an index of geological complexity that combines four different geological components: lithologic complexity (number of different rock types per unit area); tectonic complexity (density of faults); seismicity (probability of earthquake activity); and structural complexity (how disordered the rock structures…
Dozens buried under rubble after landslide in south-west China – video
Liangshui village in south-west China has been hit by a landslide, which has killed at least eight people and left 47 people buried under rubble. Rescue workers were mobilised to pull people from the debris of collapsed buildings in freezing temperatures. Hundreds of people were evacuated from the village The Guardian
China landslide buries dozens in Yunnan province, state media reports
Forty-seven people were buried in a landslide in China’s south-western Yunnan province, state media has reported. CCTV said on Monday that about 18 households were buried, and more than 200 people were evacuated. Authorities launched an emergency response involving more than 200 rescue workers as well as dozens of fire engines and other equipment, CCTV said. Landslides are common in Yunnan, a remote region of China where steep mountain ranges butt against the Himalayan plateau. Monday’s disaster occurred in a rural area surrounded by towering peaks dusted with snow. Temperatures…
Heatwaves, flood and fire: what it’s like to survive 2023’s extreme weather – video
In 2023, the effects of the climate crisis have come into sharp focus. Much of the northern hemisphere endured a blistering heatwave, while other countries were inundated with torrential rain and catastrophic flooding. A number of climate records – some unofficial – tumbled in recent weeks. The Guardian spoke to four people from Hawaii, India, China and the Middle East directly affected by extreme weather events The Guardian
Flooding across China displaces thousands after weeks of torrential rain – video
According to state media, heavy flooding has displaced thousands of people and damaged infrastructure across China. Authorities in the northern Shaanxi province reported the worst flooding in 50 years, while in the south-western city of Chongqing, a landslide caused cracks in roads and damaged foundations. Further footage from across the country shows vehicles submerged in water and bridges destroyed. No deaths have been reported as a result of the flooding so far The Guardian