Nepal’s devastating floods: 10 seconds could save lives
Could more lives be saved if people were trained to act immediately when a flood warning arrives? I believe the answer is yes.
On August 26, a devastating flood struck Nepal near the Nepal-China border, sweeping away structures and claiming lives. Customs officer Karbir Gaire witnessed the flood from the China side, warning people to evacuate. Those who heeded his warning survived, while others who delayed or ran in the wrong direction were swept away. The flood originated in the Himalayas and caused massive destruction, with at least 39 Australians reported missing.
Nepal has a flood forecasting and early-warning system, but it needs to be connected to immediate action. People need to know what to do in emergencies, such as evacuating to higher ground. Training and preparedness can significantly improve survival rates during floods.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
