Flash floods kill at least five in Nepal's Gorkha district
A pre-dawn landslide blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, reportedly destroying two villages, damaging a hydropower station and stranding more than 100 foreign trekkers.
At a glance
- A landslide on 11 October blocked the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha, sending flash floods through downstream villages.
- At least five people died, almost 100 were rescued, 204 homes were damaged and more than 650 people were affected.
- Two villages in Chumanubri rural municipality were reportedly destroyed and over 100 foreign trekkers were stranded.
Flash floods have killed at least five people in Nepal's central Gorkha district after a pre-dawn landslide on 11 October blocked the Budhi Gandaki River and sent water surging downstream.
Almost 100 people have been rescued, and two villages in Chumanubri rural municipality, the worst-affected area, were reportedly destroyed. Homes, roads and bridges were washed away, and part of a hydropower station was damaged.
River rose from 2 metres to 8.5 metres
River levels rose from 2 metres to nearly 8.5 metres within hours, according to the national disaster risk reduction and management authority. The authority reported that 204 homes were damaged and more than 650 people were affected.
More than 100 foreign trekkers were stranded in the popular hiking region around Gorkha.
The flooding comes just two months after catastrophic floods and landslides devastated parts of Nepal along the border with Tibet, leaving thousands dead or missing.
Weather extremes elsewhere
An exceptionally deep area of low pressure moved towards Iceland, with central pressure measured at 931mb on 14 October. Pressure fell by 49mb in 24 hours, meeting the thresholds for explosive cyclogenesis, or a "weather bomb".
The system brought sustained winds of 55-60mph to Iceland's southern shores before tracking north-east through the North Atlantic towards Norway. Iceland was spared the strongest winds because the storm's track kept them out at sea. A 108mph gust was recorded at Bealach Na Bà in the Scottish Highlands, associated with a trailing 1,000-mile cold front stretching from Norway to the mid-Atlantic.
In Portugal, summer-like conditions have extended further into meteorological autumn. After temperatures of 40C at the end of September, a maximum of 35.6C was recorded on 14 October in the southern town of Mora, a climatological anomaly of more than 10C. Numerous stations recorded temperatures well into the mid-30s celsius, and forecasts show the high pressure and unseasonably warm upper air will remain for a few more days, with temperatures expected to return slowly towards the average around the middle of next week.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- What caused the flash floods in Nepal's Gorkha district?
- A pre-dawn landslide on 11 October blocked the Budhi Gandaki River, triggering severe downstream flooding. River levels rose from 2 metres to nearly 8.5 metres within hours.
- How many people were killed and affected in the Nepal floods?
- At least five people died and almost 100 were rescued. The national disaster authority reported 204 homes damaged and more than 650 people affected, with two villages reportedly destroyed.
- Were trekkers affected by the Gorkha floods?
- Yes. More than 100 foreign trekkers were stranded in the popular hiking region after the flooding, which also damaged part of a hydropower station.
