Two Israelis Still Missing After Nepal Glacier Collapse
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Two Israelis remain missing following a devastating glacier collapse in Nepal and Tibet that caused widespread flooding and claimed over 1,400 lives. Nepal is initiating a $50 million, multi-year project to drain glacial lakes and mitigate future flood risks, a move highlighted by the Prime Minister as a consequence of climate change.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Two Israelis are among over 5,000 people missing after a glacier collapse in Nepal and Tibet.
- Nepal will undertake a $50 million project to drain glacial lakes and prevent future floods.
- The disaster is attributed to climate change by Nepal's Prime Minister.
- The project aims to reduce the risk of glacial lake outburst floods.
Over six weeks have passed since a devastating glacier collapse triggered severe floods in Nepal and Tibet, resulting in over 1,400 fatalities and leaving more than 5,000 people unaccounted for near the Chinese border. Among the missing are Katerina Skovitz, a 41-year-old Israeli-Belarusian citizen, and an Israeli man in his 60s. Skovitz was on a spiritual journey to a sacred Hindu and Buddhist site when contact was lost after she informed a WhatsApp group that she was traveling to China. The Israeli man was part of an organized tour group. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has issued a warning to Israelis in the region to avoid danger zones, including Chitwan in southern Nepal, which was affected by the floods.
In response to the ongoing threat of glacial lake floods, Nepal is set to launch a complex project next year to drain four high-altitude glacial lakes. Subash Tuladhar, an expert overseeing the project, stated that the goal is to reduce the risk of these lakes breaching their natural dams and causing downstream flooding. The project, funded by the Green Climate Fund, the UN Development Programme, and the government, will involve controlled water release into nearby rivers and is estimated to cost $50 million and take up to six years to complete. It will also include sensor installations, a flood forecasting system, and community resilience measures.
Nepal has prior experience with such projects, having lowered the water levels of Gholpa Lake in 2000 and Imja Lake near Mount Everest a decade ago. The nation's Prime Minister, Bhandra Shah, recently addressed the UN, characterizing the disaster as a global warning and attributing it to climate change, despite Nepal's minimal contribution to global emissions. He highlighted the receding glaciers, unstable slopes, and unpredictable rivers as evidence of Nepal bearing a heavy price.
Climate scientists explain that rising global temperatures are causing Himalayan glaciers to retreat, forming unstable glacial lakes. These lakes, held back by loose debris and ice, pose a significant risk to millions living in valleys below. According to retired expert Samajuel Ratna Bajracharya, reducing the lake levels by three meters would substantially mitigate the threat, as these lakes are rapidly expanding and could breach due to earthquakes, avalanches, climate conditions, or human activity.