Nepal: Floods and Landslides - Jul 2019
Disaster description
Incessant rainfall since 11 July afternoon there has killed 29 people and displaced 2,065 households in Central and Eastern part of the country. Recorded highest rainfall for 24 hrs (11-12 July) was 311.9 mm at Simara, Bara, and 245 mm was recorded in Janakpur. The communications systems are semi-functioning in the worst affected areas...The most affected districts are Sarlahi, Mahottari and Rautahat...While the weather situation is improving in the Kathmandu valley, the authorities have issued warning alerts to residents along the Kankai, Koshi, Tamor, Bagmati, Kamala, East Rapti watersheds in Provinces 1, 2 and 3. (Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, 13 Jul 2019)
Incessant rainfall since 11 July afternoon has killed 64 people and temporarily displaced 16,520 households to date (approximately 80,000 people) in Central and Eastern Nepal. While there are humanitarian needs, this is a localized situation, smaller in scale than 2017 when around 460,000 were temporarily displaced...The communications systems and electricity are semi-functioning in the worst affected areas (Sarlahi, Mahottari, Saptari and Rautahat)...While the weather situation is improving, and the flood water levels are receding, the authorities have issued warning alerts to people in Provinces 5, 6 and 7 as heavy rain is expected in those areasin the coming days. (Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, 15 Jul 2019)
Relief efforts are ongoing, and the situation is progressively returning to normal. The temporarily displaced population is gradually returning: According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of temporarily displaced has decreased to 11,839 households from a peak of 17, 431 on 16 July. Flood waters have receded in most areas, and following repair works major highways are operational. However, rural roads in some area of the southern parts of Terai districts remain inaccessible, and water logging and associated damages in some locations in the southern part of Saptari, Rautahat and Mahottari continue to pose operational challenges. The axis of this monsoon trough has moved south, away from the Terai region of Nepal. Thus, the monsoon rainfall is less active across the country overall, although the authorities have asked Provinces 5, 6 and 7 to be on standby and issued alerts to major watersheds in those areas, according to the forecast. (Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, 18 Jul 2019)
According to the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOCO) as of 19 July, 90 people died, 29 are still missing and 41 have been reported injured as a result of ongoing heavy Monsoon rains. The Nepal Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and Nepal Survey Department report that 11,839 are displaced. In the last 7 days, 92 landslides and 83 floods have affected the country. (ECHO, 19 Jul 2019)
Heavy rainfall on 11-12 July caused landslides and flooding in 32 Districts across Nepal. Flooding was most severe in 11 Terai districts of Provinces 1 and 2. A large loss of life and damages to assets, housing, water and sanitation infrastructure, food stocks, crop and livestock all have a significant impact on food security in the region. An estimated 212,000 people’s food security is significantly affected as a result of the flooding, of which 101,600 people, or 17,400 households, are deemed to be the most in need of assistance. (Govt. of Nepal, 23 Jul 2019)
As of 24 July, media report 94 fatalities, while 29 people are reported missing. The death toll could further increase after several landslides hit Gulmi district (western Nepal). Various highways and main roads closed due to floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. Rivers Bagmati (in Karmaiya Town) and Riukhola (in Bankatta Town) have reached above danger level. (ECHO, 24 Jul 2019)
As of 29 July, 115 people have been confirmed dead, 29 people are reported as missing and 69 have been injured. For the next 24 hours, widespread heavy rain with thunderstorms is forecast over the country. (ECHO, 29 Jul 2019)
As of 30 July, an estimated 176,800 people’s food security is currently significantly affected as a result of the flooding, of which 79,900 people, or 13,800 households, are deemed to be the most in need of assistance. At least 12,000 households are estimated displaced in six Districts as of 29 July, a majority of whom are in Siraha (5,300) and Mahottari (4,600) Districts. Many households in flooded areas have lost food stock from the winter harvest. Within the most affected communities of each district, losses were largest in Siraha, Rautahat, Sarlahi and Mahottari, with 40-80% of households having lost upwards of 75% of their food stock. (Govt. of Nepal, 30 Jul 2019)
As of 1 August, 117 people died, 80 have been injured and 38 are reportedly still missing. The number of fatalities has increased following several floods and landslides across 32 Districts since the beginning of July. For the next 24 hours, moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms is forecast across the country. Furthermore, several houses have been damaged and destroyed, particularly in Rautahat, Mahottari and Siraha Districts. (ECHO, 01 Aug 2019)