Delayed Flood Alerts

The Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi flood has killed more than 1,450 people, left more than 5,000 people missing, and affected nearly 33,000 residents. According to the NDRRMA Rapid Assessment Report, the disaster caused an estimated $2.695 billion in total financial effects with approximately $4.775 billion in recovery needs. We are still learning what happened above Langtang Lirung. Evidence so far points to a huge slab of glacier and bedrock, breaking off the peak's north face and falling into the valley, hitting the ground hard enough to generate a seismic signal comparable to a magnitude-5.2 earthquake. It dammed the Lhende Khola; when that debris dam gave way, it sent the flood racing down the Trishuli.