Lake outburst flood sweeps Thame Village in Everest Region

August 16, 2024 – Everest Region, Nepal: This afternoon, a rare climatic event led to a major lake outburst flood sweeps Thame Village in Everest Region, severely impacting a climbers’ village in the Everest area. According to media reports, more than half of the village’s homes were buried under muck and debris. The outburst was caused by Thengbo Lake, located near Tashi Lapcha Pass, which flooded the village. This village is well-known as the birthplace of the legendary Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, the first to summit Mount Everest.

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) occur when water is suddenly released from a lake fed by glacier melt, which can form beside, in front of, within, beneath, or on the surface of a glacier, according to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Experts have long warned that global warming is putting glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region at risk of such outbursts.

In response to this disaster, the Ministry of Home Affairs, in coordination with the Defense Ministry, has mobilized the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police to carry out search, rescue, and disaster management operations, as reported by *The Kathmandu Post*.

Impact and Response for the Lake Outburst Flood Sweeps Thame Village in Everest Region

According to Mingma Sherpa of Thamechho Kydug from Thame, a significant outburst occurred this afternoon from lakes beneath the Thengbo Glacier, resulting in a massive flood and landslide. “More than half of Thame village has been affected,” Sherpa reported. He added that downstream settlements near the Dhudhkoshi River have been placed on high alert.

The authorities discovered that two out of the five lakes located above Thame village in the Everest region had collapsed, resulting in flooding downward.

On Friday, the Thame River, which had become larger due to swelling, caused significant damage in Ward 5 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu District. It demolished 20 houses, including Thame Elementary School and a clinic, and forced 135 people to leave their homes.

Local media cited Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dwarika Prasad Ghimire of the District Police Office, Solukhumbu, stating that three houses and a hotel have been destroyed, with five more at risk.

“We are doing everything possible to reach the affected areas and provide relief,” said Pasang Lama, spokesperson for the Solukhumbu District Administration. “Our priority is the safety of the villagers and assessing the full extent of the damage.”

Environmental Concerns

The recent lake outburst flood has underscored the growing environmental challenges in the Himalayas due to climate change. With rising global temperatures, glacial lakes in the region are swelling, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic floods. Experts have warned that such events may become more frequent and severe, posing a significant threat to local communities and the area’s fragile ecosystem.

“This event is a stark reminder for all of us,” said Dr. Anil Adhikari, a climate scientist at Tribhuvan University. “We must invest in better monitoring and early warning systems to prevent future tragedies.”

Conclusion

The recent lake outburst flood sweeps Thame Village in Everest Region highlights the increasing dangers that climate change poses to the Himalayan region. As rescue and relief efforts continue, the focus will need to shift toward developing long-term solutions that can protect these high-altitude communities from the growing threats of glacial lake outbursts and other climate-related disasters.