Warning and response gaps may have raised Nepal’s flood death toll

Science News reports that a late-August rock-ice avalanche sent a debris flow down Nepal’s Trishuli River, killing at least 1,400 people. More than 5,000 were still missing as of September 24. Survivors and scientists say fragile early warnings and uncoordinated community responses probably increased the death toll. Officials are discussing backup sensors and changes to how river gauges send alerts.