Geologist: Nature is powerful; organized countries focus on prediction and prevention, disorganized ones on consequences
Translated from Serbian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- Torrential floods in Nepal have killed over 620 people, with more than 3,000 missing, including a Serbian citizen.
- Satellite imagery suggests a glacial lake outburst flood may have been triggered by a landslide, possibly linked to a recent earthquake.
- A geologist explains that such events are common in mountainous regions and highlights the difference between countries that prioritize prediction and prevention versus those that deal with consequences.
A devastating glacial lake outburst flood in Nepal has claimed over 620 lives and left more than 3,000 people missing, including a Serbian national. Satellite images indicate that the disaster may have been triggered by a massive landslide from a melting glacier, potentially exacerbated by a recent earthquake in the region.
Geologist Branislav Boลพoviฤ described the event as unsurprising, noting that similar catastrophic landslides occur in mountainous areas worldwide, including the Alps and Andes. He explained that the Himalayas are experiencing rapid glacier melt due to warming temperatures, leading to the thawing of permafrost and increasing the risk of such devastating events.
What is happening in the Himalayas and other mountainous regions is a consequence of the geological positioning of those areas.
Boลพoviฤ drew a parallel to a smaller-scale event in Serbia, where a landslide in the 1960s created the Zavoj Lake. However, he stressed that the scale of the Nepal disaster is far beyond what could be managed through engineering, leaving communities buried under mud.
He concluded by contrasting the approaches of different nations: "Organized countries focus on prediction and prevention, while disorganized ones deal with the consequences." Boลพoviฤ warned that neglecting such preventative measures, even in countries like Serbia, can lead to severe and unpleasant events.
Organized countries focus on prediction and prevention, while disorganized ones deal with the consequences.
Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.