A disaster relief group formed by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has spotted a number of serious secondary disasters in Nepal, which was hit by a devastating earthquake in late April.

 

Over the weekend, Chinese scientists’ analyzed data sent from Gaofen 1, a high-resolution Chinese satellite, and located several new hazards including mudslides, landslides and barrier lakes.

 

Among these, the most severe took place in the Rasuwa region, with many landslides spotted along the slopes of the China-Nepal Highway and a 0.3 square kilometer barrier lake threatening downstream villages.

 

Since the early 1980s, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has been working with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, an intergovernmental organization based in Kathmandu.

 

Being the first group of foreign experts arriving in Nepal after the earthquake, the Chinese scientists immediately formed a joint working group with the international center and Tribhuvan University to identify locations that need urgent supplies, carry out risk assessment for secondary disasters and evaluate loss of infrastructure like roads and power stations.

 

In the coming days, the Chinese experts will use satellite images to assess the safety of roads linking disaster-affected areas and will carry out field research once safe roads are reopened. 

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