Nepal floods expose risks to hydropower in a warming Himalayas
Summary
Severe floods in Nepal have damaged multiple hydropower projects, cutting off electricity for over 20,000 people and leaving hundreds of workers missing, many trapped in tunnels. Experts say Nepal must rethink where and how it rebuilds damaged infrastructure to reduce future risks from climate change.Key Facts
- Floods in Nepal recently destroyed hydropower plants supplying electricity to more than 20,000 people.
- About 900 workers are missing in Nepal’s hydropower projects, many believed trapped in tunnels.
- These floods, combined with events in China, have caused over 900 deaths and left 4,700 people missing.
- Around 700 megawatts of hydropower capacity, about 10% of Nepal’s total, went offline because of the floods.
- Roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals were also severely damaged in the affected districts.
- Experts recommend rebuilding infrastructure in safer locations and creating backup systems to maintain essential services.
- A geoscientist explained that hydropower tunnels, large enough for trucks, were used as shelters but became dangerous during floods.
- Nepal faces $124 billion worth of infrastructure risk from climate-driven disasters, increasing the need for stronger disaster planning.
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