Why is Nepal so prone to flooding?published at 05:28 BST
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesResidents are still dealing with the aftermath of deadly August floods along Nepal’s Trishuli River.
Along Nepal’s borders lie the Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world and one of the main drivers of the country’s tourism industry.
But high mountain environments can be unpredictable, and flooding often occurs when landslides and avalanches cause downstream rivers to flash flood.
Nepal is also prone to earthquakes, which can destabilize mountain snow and ice. In 2015, nearly 9,000 people were killed after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, triggering deadly avalanches on Mount Everest.
More recently, flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border, which killed hundreds and left thousands missing, was caused by an ice avalanche near the summit of Langtang Lirung, a mountain on the Nepalese side of the Himalayas.
Experts say climate change, which is accelerating the melting of glaciers, is likely increasing the risks of such disasters. And as mountain environments become even more unstable, the communities that live there find themselves increasingly vulnerable.
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