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Surviving mud and landslide
19 May 2008
Image courtesy of WWF
Norbu Sherpa is a 41-year-old trekking guide in the Khumbu region of Nepal, not
far from Mount Everest. He and his family managed to survive a sudden flood and
mudslide in 1985 when a lake of melted glacier water burst.
"We saw a big black stream of mud, including rocks and trees, rushing down the
mountain. In a few minutes the flood had swept away five houses including mine,
as well as cattle and crops. Those were the most distressing hours of my life."
Since then, Norbu has managed to slowly rebuild his life but the changing
environment continues to pose a threat.
"We are noticing many other climate changes in my village and its surroundings.
Rainfall has declined and we are experiencing more droughts; trees are dying.
This winter there was no snow and no rainfall. Instead, we had snowstorms when
we least expected them, in spring, baffling locals and tourists alike.
"Due to the lack of rainfall we have been unable to grow anything at all this
year."
"I fear that more floods will occur," he says. "I would not be able to restore
my life a second time. So I pray it won’t repeat again and sadly that is all I
can do."
This story was provided by the WWF.
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