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ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN

Ministry of Home and Cultural AffairsDepartment of Disaster Management

P.O Box : 1493, Thimphu-11001

“Reducing Disaster Risks for a Safe and Happy Bhutan”

Disaster Management in Bhutan

Tshering WangchukDepartment of Disaster Management

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs





EARTHFIRE

WATER

AIR





Presentation Outline

ü Various Hazards in Bhutan

ü Department of Disaster Management – Major

Functions

ü Disaster Management Institutions at different

levels

ü Challenges





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)

September 21st 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

Out of 2794 glacial lakes, 25 has been identified as potentially dangerous lakes.

Pho Chu Sub Basin : 9

Mo Chu Sub Basin : 5

Chamkhar Chu Sub Basin: 3

Kuri Chu Sub Basin: 1

Mangde Chu Sub Basin: 7

14

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 m3

• 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





Underlying Vulnerabilities

vUnsafe construction Practices

vRapid urbanization

vLack of Enforcement

vSocio-Economic Factors

vLack of Awareness

vLack of Preparedness Planning

vCulture of Insurance





Department of Disaster ManagementMajor 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





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





Contd…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





IV. Disaster Management Institutions as per the Disaster Management Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan

National Disaster Management Authority

National Committee for DM

Department of Disaster ManagementMoHCAInter Ministerial Task Force

National Emergency Operation Center

Ministries/Agencies

District Disaster Management Committees

Sub-District DM CommitteesMunicipal DM Committees Block DM Committees

District Emergency Operation Center





ChallengesvResources 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

TASHI DELEK (THANK YOU)TASHI DELEK (THANK YOU)

“Reducing Disaster Risks for Safe and Happy Bhutan”

disaster management in bhutan - unescap.org · vlack of capacities (technical expertise)...

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