Nepal Faces Devastating Disasters: Earthquakes, Floods, and Landslides Cause Widespread Damage
Summary
Nepal has suffered repeated devastation from earthquakes, floods, landslides and the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two decades, leaving thousands dead and causing massive economic losses. Experts and officials say the latest Bhote Koshi flood highlights rising climate risks and the country’s urgent need for better disaster preparedness.
Key Points
- The article reviews major disasters in Nepal over the past two decades, including the 2015 earthquake, COVID-19, the Jajarkot earthquake, and recent floods and landslides.
- The Bhote Koshi flood in Rasuwa and surrounding districts caused heavy casualties, left around 4,800 missing, and may cost about 500 billion rupees to rebuild.
- Disaster experts say poor preparedness and damaged information systems worsened the impact, preventing timely warnings to residents.
- Prime Minister Balen Shah said Nepal must raise climate-disaster concerns internationally, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blamed developed countries for driving climate change impacts on Nepal.
