Kathmandu, July 7 (EFE).- Incessant rains have caused widespread devastation across Nepal, killing at least 14 people and injuring several, police said on Sunday.
Nepal police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki said floods, landslides, and inundations “caused by the rains have resulted in widespread loss of life and property.”
“Reports are yet to come. The death toll may increase,” said Karki said, adding 14 people are confirmed dead due to landslides and floods.
Authorities confirmed three deaths in a landslide in Tanahu and three people were swept away by rains in Dang in the past 48 hours since Friday morning.
«The situation remains fluid. We anticipate the death toll may rise,» Karki added.
Intense rainfall has raised water levels in major rivers, causing flooding in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. Most highways nationwide are blocked due to floods and landslides, according to Karki.
The Nepal disaster management authority reported 68 deaths from various climate-related disasters over the past month. It also warned that key rivers like the Saptakoshi and Narayani have surpassed danger levels.
This year, South Asian meteorologists predict above-normal monsoon rainfall, affecting an estimated 1.8 million people in the region.
Nepal’s diverse geography, ranging from the Terai plains to Mount Everest, coupled with its varied agroecological zones, increases vulnerability to natural hazards like heavy monsoons and steep terrain.
The Himalayan nation is among the most vulnerable globally to climate change, ranked 139th out of 182 countries by the World Bank in terms of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity to climate impacts. EFE
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