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Nepal: Scientists Explain Factors Behind Devastating Floods
🇬🇷 Greece /Disasters & Emergencies

Nepal: Scientists Explain Factors Behind Devastating Floods

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Scientists are explaining the conditions that led to a catastrophic event in Nepal.
  • They suggest a combination of rapid movement of water, ice, and earth, along with the failure of natural dams, caused the disaster.
  • A prior earthquake likely triggered the glacier collapse that led to the subsequent flooding.

A catastrophic event in Nepal has left behind an immense tragedy, with residents struggling to recover from the consequences of a natural disaster. Scientists are explaining the conditions that led to this incalculable blow.

We are dealing with the very rapid movement of large masses. Both water and ice and earth. The water accumulated behind, the earthen embankment broke, and it moved downwards with even greater speed. This movement is reinforced by the fact that there were small check dams in its path, and these dams broke one by one.

— Efthymios LekkasProfessor of Dynamics, Tectonics, and Applied Geology explaining the sequence of events leading to the disaster.

While the exact causes of the tragedy have not yet been confirmed, Greek scientists emphasize that a sequence of phenomena and conditions contributed to this biblical disaster. Professor of Dynamics, Tectonics, and Applied Geology, Efthymios Lekkas, explained, "We are dealing with the very rapid movement of large masses. Both water and ice and earth. The water accumulated behind, the earthen embankment broke, and it moved downwards with even greater speed. This movement is reinforced by the fact that there were small check dams in its path, and these dams broke one by one."

According to experts, an earthquake alone is not enough to cause a disaster of this magnitude. Professor of Seismology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Emmanouil Skordylis, noted, "The most likely scenario is that the earthquake preceded it, the earthquake caused the collapse of this glacier, and then – due to this collapse – waves were created in the river which passed through the cities and caused the problems they did."

The most likely scenario is that the earthquake preceded it, the earthquake caused the collapse of this glacier, and then – due to this collapse – waves were created in the river which passed through the cities and caused the problems they did.

— Emmanouil SkordylisProfessor of Seismology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on the role of the earthquake.

The region was previously hit by a major 7.8 magnitude earthquake 11 years ago. Skordylis added, "The scenario that a 5.8 earthquake occurred and caused the glacier's collapse, I think it is quite realistic." Greek scientists conclude that the disaster in Nepal resulted from the combination of natural phenomena and human interventions that occurred simultaneously.

The scenario that a 5.8 earthquake occurred and caused the glacier's collapse, I think it is quite realistic.

— Emmanouil SkordylisProfessor of Seismology commenting on the potential trigger for the glacier collapse.
About this summary

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. 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.

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