Landslide-triggered flash floods kill five, destroy two villages in central Nepal
River blockage triggers flooding
A landslide came down before dawn on 11 October and blocked the Budhi Gandaki River in Gorkha district, central Nepal. The obstruction led to serious flooding downstream. At least five people died, while almost 100 people were rescued. Two villages in Chumanubri rural municipality, the area worst affected, were reportedly destroyed.
Homes and infrastructure damaged
Floodwaters carried away homes, roads and bridges. Part of a hydropower station was also damaged. The reported destruction affected two villages, though the account did not provide further details about the damage or the people displaced.
Other weather extremes reported
A powerful low-pressure system approached Iceland, reaching a central pressure of 931mb on 14 October after falling 49mb in 24 hours. It brought sustained winds of 55mph–60mph to the island’s southern shores before moving northeast across the North Atlantic towards Norway.
Portugal also experienced unusually warm conditions for meteorological autumn. The southern town of Mora recorded a high of 35.6C on 14 October, following temperatures of 40C at the end of September; the October reading was more than 10C above the climatological norm.
Key points
- At least five people died and almost 100 were rescued after downstream flooding.
- Two villages were reportedly destroyed, and a hydropower station was partly damaged.
- The report also describes a deep low near Iceland and unusually high October temperatures in Portugal.