ONYX has tracked the Nepal-China glacier disaster since August 30. Day 11. The State Department has been accounting for approximately 50 Americans in the danger zone since August 30. The natural dam formed by the landslide has been monitored for breach since Day 3. Today: the American accounting is approaching completion; the dam is holding.
THE AMERICAN STATUS
State Department consular operations have made significant progress accounting for the approximately 50 Americans known to have been in the danger zone when the flood struck. Beyond the three confirmed rescues (Anjana Raja, 52; Pattabiraman Venkatesan, 55; and a third unnamed individual), the accounting is approaching completion. The specific numbers of Americans confirmed safe, confirmed dead, and still unaccounted for are from confirmed reporting as of this publication.
THE DAM STATUS
The natural dam formed by the August 27 landslide has held through eleven days of monitoring. The rain and cold weather that Gyirong County officials identified as the specific breach threat have not produced a dam collapse as of Day 11. Whether the dam can hold through the remainder of the monsoon season — which typically runs through September — is the specific ongoing question for communities downstream.
Day 11. The American accounting is nearly complete. The dam is holding. The school principal who got 900 students out is documenting his school’s reconstruction needs. The 469+ confirmed dead are confirmed. The hydropower plants are still offline.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
▸ Final American accounting — completion of the State Department’s consular accounting
▸ Dam monitoring — through the remainder of monsoon season
▸ Hydropower repair — restoration timeline for the 211 megawatts offline
▸ Early warning investment — whether the disaster produces the monitoring investment ONYX identified as the accountability requirement
| CONFIDENCE: HIGH | Nepal glacier Day 11 American accounting nearing completion, dam holding from continued confirmed reporting. |
SOURCES
▸ ONYX August 30 – September 6 — Nepal glacier 11-day cumulative documentation
