By Amaarah Joosab (Grade 9C)
Imagine waking up one morning to find roads, homes and bridges buried beneath mud and water. For thousands of people in Nepal, this became reality on 26 August 2026, when devastating flash floods struck parts of the country after a glacier collapse in the Himalayas. The disaster destroyed communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river corridors and left thousands dead or missing.
Nepal is no stranger to natural disasters. Its steep mountains make the country especially vulnerable to landslides, floods and avalanches. However, this disaster has raised an even bigger concern: climate change is making the Himalayas increasingly dangerous. As temperatures rise, glaciers and frozen ground become less stable. When ice, rock and water collapse down a mountain, the result can be a powerful flood capable of destroying everything in its path. Scientists say global warming is increasing the instability of high-altitude regions, making disasters like these more likely.
What makes Nepal’s situation especially unfair is that the country contributes very little to the climate crisis. Yet it is experiencing some of its most devastating consequences. Nepal produces only a tiny fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, while communities living in the Himalayas are facing the destruction caused by a warming planet.
The disaster has also shown how quickly climate-related events can affect everyday life. Roads and bridges were destroyed; schools were damaged, and vital infrastructure got swept away. Rescue teams have had to work through enormous amounts of debris to reach people trapped by the floods. Even days later, rescuers have continued finding survivors, showing both the scale of the disaster and the determination of those fighting to save lives.
Nepal’s disaster should therefore not be viewed as just another natural catastrophe. It is a warning. Climate change is no longer something that belongs to the future or exists only in scientific reports. It is happening now, affecting real people, communities and countries.
This tragedy is a reminder that climate change does not wait for us to be ready. The question is no longer whether climate change will affect us, but how much we are willing to do before the next disaster strikes.
[Photo placeholder: devastation in Nepal’s natural disaster — image to be added]