Nepal sees nearly 300,000 people living in flood-prone Himalayan areas
New research indicates almost 300,000 residents currently inhabit flood-prone zones across the Nepalese Himalayas.
Rapid growth in exposed populations
Scientists analyzed data covering the years between 2016 and 2023 to track changes in risk. They found that built-up areas potentially exposed to flooding increased by 46 percent during this period. This expansion includes more than 100,000 individuals located downstream of glacial lakes.
Melting ice creates new hazards
Glaciers are melting while mountain permafrost thaws and glacial lakes expand in size. These changes cause the risks from floods, landslides, and other high-mountain hazards to rise significantly. Researchers note that less attention has been paid to exposure compared to the causes of these events.
Focus on human infrastructure
More people and infrastructure are moving into valleys where hazards are most likely to strike. The study highlights how quickly this exposure is growing in the region. Most previous work focused on what causes hazards rather than who lives near them.
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