ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN Disaster Management in Bhutan Tshering Wangchuk ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN EARTH FIRE WATER AIR
ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN Presentation Outline Various Hazards in Bhutan Major Functions Disaster Management Institutions at different levels Challenges ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN Hazards in Bhutan Earthquake Bhutan Zone IV V Earthquake History 4 exceeding 8 on Richter scale (1897, 1905, 1934, 1950) 10 exceeding 7.5 (Himalayan belt in the last 100 years) 1980 (6.1, Sikkim) 1988 (6.6, Indo-Nepal border), 2003 (5.5, Bhutan) February 2006 (5.8, 5.5)
ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN
September 21 st Earthquake - Magnitude 6.1-2:53 p.m. local time - Epicenter Narang, Mongar - Duration 95 seconds - Depth 10 Kms (shallow) - Repeated after-shocks - Widespread geographical area 13 Districts Glacial Lake Outburst Floods 2,674 glacial lakes 25 potentially dangerous lakes Causes Global Warming Avalanches Earthquakes Past events 1957, 1960, 1994
Potentially dangerous glacial lakes of Bhutan Pho Chu Sub Basin : 9 Mo Chu Sub Basin : 5 14 Chamkhar Chu Sub Basin: 3 Kuri Chu Sub Basin: 1 Mangde Chu Sub Basin: 7 Out of 2794 glacial lakes, 25 has been identified as potentially dangerous lakes. Source: DGM & ICIMOD publication
Flash Floods Recurrent Eastern and Southern regions most vulnerable Past events 2000 Phuentsholing and Pasakha 2004 East 9 people lost lives May 2009 flash flood Cyclone Aila Floods 25 26 May, 2009 incessant rainfall precipitated by Cyclone Aila All major rivers swelled to record levels Water levels recorded in Punakha and Wangdue exceeded 1994 GLOF levels - 17 m 3 All Districts and all sectors affected.
Loss and Damage 13 lives lost Govt. Infrastructure Nu. 544 million Farm and feeder roads Nu. 47 million Agriculture property Nu. 7.5 million Bridges Nu. 56 million Drinking water/ Irrigation Nu. 45 million Livestock Nu. 15 million Private Properties Nu. 7 million Total Nu. 722 million
Landslides Landslides - masses of rock, earth, or debris moving down a slope, may be very small or very large, can move at very high speed. Associated with heavy rainfall, tend to worsen the effects of flooding that often accompanies these events. In areas burnt by forest fires, a lesser amount of precipitation may initiate landslides. Other triggers Earthquakes, poor land management Eastern and southern region Landslides
Fires on Forest and Human Settlement Forest fires Annual event 99.9 % manmade Fires on Human Settlement Unsafe habits electrical wiring, temporary housing Use of wood Numerous isolated events Armed Forces Volunteer base Fires on Forest and Human Settlement
Other hazards Windstorms/ Thunderstorms/ Snowstorms/ Hailstorms Epidemics, pests and diseases ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN Underlying Vulnerabilities vunsafe construction Practices vrapid urbanization vlack of Enforcement vsocio-economic Factors vlack of Awareness vlack of Preparedness Planning vculture of Insurance
ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN Major Functions: vnational Coordinating Agency for all DM activities (among all Sectors/Agencies/Stakeholders) vinstitution and functioning of DM Institutions vformulation of guidelines, codes, standards vfacilitate preparation and implementation of DM Plans at all levels ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN contd vestablishment of EOC and Disaster Communications Network vcapacity building Preparedness, Response, Recovery vawareness and advocacy at all levels vfacilitate mainstreaming of DRR into Development vcollaboration with relevant International, Regional and National Agencies
ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN Early Warning Systems Early Warning for Major River Basins (DoE) GloF EWS for Punakha-Wangdue basin (DoE/DGM) Community based EWS Emergency Communications o National Emergency Operation Centre o District Emergency Operation Centre o Emergency Tele-Communication Network/System o Emergency Transportation Contd ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN IV. Disaster Management Institutions as per the Disaster Management Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan National Disaster Management Authority Ministries/Agencies National Committee for DM Inter Ministerial Task Force MoHCA National Emergency Operation Center District Disaster Management Committees District Emergency Operation Center Municipal DM Committees Sub-District DM Committees Block DM Committees
ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN Challenges vresources Constraint vlack of Capacities (Technical Expertise) vmulti-sectoral Coordination vlack of Awareness vpeople s attitude vmainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction vresponse Capacities vneed to review the NDRMF Integration of Cultural Aspects Reducing Disaster Risks for Safe and Happy Bhutan TASHI DELEK (THANK YOU) TASHI DELEK (THANK YOU)