Nepal faces secondary flash flood threat

Nepal faces a looming threat of secondary flash floods following the recent ice-rock avalanche that caused severe flooding in the region. The debris from the avalanche has accumulated at the river confluence, forming a temporary dam that could release more water in the coming days, increasing the risk of a secondary flash flood.

At least 470 people have died and nearly 1,000 remain missing, with rescue operations ongoing in their third day. Senior cryosphere specialist Mohd Farooq Azam from ICIMOD warns that the situation is similar to the 2021 flash floods in Uttarakhand's Chamoli, where a temporary lake breached without causing a flood. Despite this, Azam expresses hope that a similar outcome will occur in Nepal.

Nepal has issued a new flood warning, stating that rising water levels at the affected site heighten the risk of another flood, which could be more devastating given the area's vulnerability. While preventing such disasters is challenging, monitoring glacial lakes for potential dangers could help in developing regional response strategies.