Thousands at risk after multi-million dollar Everest flood warning system left to rust
Summary
A flood warning system near Mount Everest meant to protect thousands of people from dangerous glacial lake floods is no longer working properly. The system has not been maintained for years, leaving siren towers broken and communication links unreliable, raising concerns about safety as climate change causes these lakes to grow.Key Facts
- The early warning system was built to detect floods from the Imja glacial lake near Everest.
- Imja lake was last drained in 2016 as part of a $3.5 million project to reduce flood risk.
- Since then, no regular maintenance or inspections have been done on the system.
- Siren towers meant to warn villagers are rusting, leaning, and some batteries have been stolen.
- Satellite data used to monitor water levels and send alerts has become unreliable.
- The area’s glaciers are melting faster due to global warming, making lakes larger and more dangerous.
- At least five glacial lake floods have occurred in the Everest region in the last 50 years.
- Over 60,000 tourists visit the region annually, increasing the number of people at risk in case of a flood.
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