Catastrophic flood in Nepal’s Solukhumbu District destroys half of Thame village
Image credit: Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality
A glacial lake outburst caused a massive flash flood in Nepal’s Thame village on Friday, August 16, 2024. The flooded Thame River destroyed almost half of the village and left nearly the entire village uninhabitable.
Thame village in the Namche region of Solukhumbu District, Nepal, experienced a massive flash flood on Friday, caused by a glacial lake outburst, according to the government and an international organization working in the Hindu Kush mountain region.
The flooded Thame River carried mud, gravel, and boulders down the Himalayan slopes, destroying 20 houses, an elementary school, and a clinic in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality.
Approximately 135 people have been displaced as the Thame riverside settlement was buried under mud and stones.
An official inspection using helicopters on Saturday, August 17, confirmed that the flood was caused by a glacial lake outburst.
#BREAKING #Nepal Landslide threat in Thame village, Khumbu province, Himalayan region. The situation has been exacerbated by what locals suspect to be a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF). pic.twitter.com/USkcZvseZI
— The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) August 16, 2024
The before and after video of Thame after the flash flood yesterday. Authorities belief the cause of the flash flood is Glacial Lake Outburst.
— Visit Nepal 2024- Lifetime Experience (@nepalplanettrek) August 17, 2024
PS: Reposting the video after a typo error earlier
:okhaldhungakhabar https://t.co/C8TL7cMqm4 #nepal #himalayas #mountains #st pic.twitter.com/OA06hTzg9Y
Thame Village flood on 16.08.24 afternoon. Heli-survey confirms a GLOF event from Lake 3. Possible cascade?? from upstream to be identified #GLOF #NDRRMA #NEPAL #flood #Everestregion @raishashikant6 pic.twitter.com/XYmeAEaRNW
— Dr. Ashim Sattar (@GlacierHazards) August 17, 2024
Two of the five small lakes above Thame village in the Everest region were emptied of their water, having breached their banks on Friday. Two other lakes are potentially dangerous and may breach at any time, while the remaining one appears safe, according to Solukhumbu Chief District Officer Devi Pandey.
A team from the army was deployed to rescue the villagers, with police personnel also dispatched to initiate rescue and rehabilitation operations.
No casualties have been reported so far, but roughly 50 percent of Thame village has been severely damaged, and the remaining houses are uninhabitable. A school, a health clinic, and 15 houses were completely destroyed by the flood, according to the police.
Several attempts to fly helicopters from Kathmandu, Itahari, and Phaplu Airport for rescue operations and inspection of the flood-affected areas failed on Friday due to adverse weather.
93 villagers who fled to higher altitudes or were rescued are now being sheltered in an army camp, while 42 others have been temporarily placed in a community building.
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) attributed the flood to an outburst of water from the Thyanbo glacial lake.
“ICIMOD scientists are further investigating the causes of the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) and its downstream impact, including seeking pre- and post-satellite images to complement the efforts of national and local agencies, including Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology,” read a statement issued by the research institute on Saturday.
A GLOF is a type of outburst flood occurring when water dammed by a glacier or a moraine is released.
Several glacial lakes lie upstream of Thame. Satellite images of the area from 2017, obtained using the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Earth observation program, show these lakes constantly changing in size, said ICIMOD. “Researchers confirm that some of them frequently expand and contract, making them susceptible to breaches,” they added.
References:
1 Flash floods ravage Everest conqueror Tenzing Norgay’s ancestral village in Nepal – The Telegraph – August 18, 2024
2 Aerial inspection ties Thame flood to glacial lake outburst – TKP – August 18, 2024
3 Glacial lake burst causes flash flood in Thame village, sparks climate change concerns – THT – August 17, 2024
Rishav is a skilled researcher specializing in extreme and severe weather reporting. He combines exceptional research capabilities with scientific precision to deliver clear, data-driven articles. Known for uncovering critical information, Rishav ensures his work is accurate, insightful, and impactful. His passion for both science and literature fuels his dedication to producing high-quality news articles. You can reach him at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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