2 DM Overview

ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

Department of Disaster Management
P.O Box : 1493, Thimphu-11001
“Reducing Disaster Risks for a Safe and Happy Bhutan”
Overview of Disaster
Management in Bhutan
FIRE
EARTH
AIR
WATER
Presentation Outline
I. Various Hazards in Bhutan
II. Department of Disaster Management – Major
Functions
III. National Disaster Risk Management Framework
2006 & National Disaster Management Strategy
2012
IV. Disaster Management Institutions at different
levels
V. Challenges/ Constraints
I. Hazards in Bhutan
Earthquakes
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
Floods/Flash floods
Landslides
Forest fires/Structural fires
Windstorms
Pandemic-SARs, Bird flu,H1N1

I. 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)
Seismic Risk profile of Bhutan
Figure: Seismic Zonation Map of Bhutan,

Source: SAARC Disaster Database
During past 4 Decades
Figure: Earthquake epicenters in Bhutan,

Source: SAARC Disaster Database
September 21st, 2009 Earthquake

-Magnitude 6.3
-2:53 p.m. local time
-Epicenter – Narang, Mongar
-Duration – 95 seconds
-Depth – 10 Kms (shallow)
-Repeated after-shocks
- Widespread geographical
area – 13 Dzongkhags
Damage & Loss
Total
Beyond Major Partial Minor Estimated
Property Repair Repair Repair Repair Total loss (Nu.
Million)
Rural
Homes 462 884 1335 2269 4950 1119
BHUs 3 6 19 17 45 124
Schools 8 26 37 46 117 594
Lhakhangs 36 91 109 64 281
Chortens 142 163 120 114 539 650
Dzongs 0 2 0 6 8
RNR 0 4 7 18 29
Gups 4 6 4 12 26 14
Office
TOTAL 2501
September 18, 2011 Earthquake

Damage and Loss

S/N Damages No./Qty Remarks
1 Casualties 15 Death of one woman in Darla Gewog,
Chukha and 14 injured in Haa
2 Rural Homes 7965
3 Dzongs 13
4 Lhakhangs 352
5 Chortens 155
6 Schools/NFEs 114
7 Hospitals/BHUs/ORCs 51
8 RNR 31
9 Gup Office 47
10 Other infrastructure 35
Total Loss Nu.1,197.63 million
(USD 24.46m) The current figures are subject to change
since the Dzongkhags are carrying out the
Bechung Glacier Thorthormi lake
Rapstring lake
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
• 2,674 glacial lakes
• 25 potentially dangerous lakes
– Latest -2 GL with Immediate Threat
• Causes
– Global Warming
– Avalanches
– Earthquakes
• Past events – 1957, 1960, 1994 (Tsho-ju/ Tarina/Lugge
Tsho)
Raphstreng and glacier tongue of Thorthormi Glacier
Sat imagery: 1994 and 1999
1994 1999
Change in Glacier
Oct. 1984
Oct. 1999
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 2674 glacial lakes, 25 has been identified as potentially dangerous lakes.
Source: DGM & ICIMOD publication
Potentially dangerous glacial lakes of
Bhutan

At least two cases of past
GLOF events (1958 or 1960??
Pho Chu sub-basin: most vulnerable valley in
and 1994) from Pho Chhu
headwaters terms of GLOF disaster
Pho Chu Sub Basin : 9
Recent studies (DGM-JICA/JST) concluded
14
Mo Chu Sub Basin : 5
Raphstreng and Chamkhar
Thorthomi lake as the two
Chu Sub Basin: 3
potentially dangerous glacier
Kuri Chu Sub Basin: lakes
1 in Bhutan
Mangde Chu Sub Basin: 7
Out of 2794 glacial lakes, 25 has been identified as potentially dangerous lakes.
Source: DGM & ICIMOD publication
Why GLOF matters?
Point data showing the settlement pattern of Bhutan
Source: NSB, 2005

Over 70% of the settlements are located along the drainage basins.
Settlements & Vulnerability to Hazards
 River valleys are only

productive lands available for
any development
activities...hydropower,
agriculture, airports..etc..
 Hazards due to GLOF and Flash

Flood etc. are likely to increase
as Climate changes placing
many hydropower plants,
farmland and human
settlements at risk
1994 GLOF
3000
2500
Discharge (m3/s)
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Month
Luggi Tsho glacial lake two weeks after the flood of 7 October 1994
(DGM)
Logs in Puna Tshangchu (Wang due Phodr ang
Bridge) br ought down by the flood of 1994
(Hel vetas).
GLOF risk from Thorthormi Lake
Moraine barrier
Raphstreng Lake
Thorthormi Lake
Minimum width of the

moraine wall 32m
53 million Two lakes water level
m3 height difference=79 m
GLOF
SL I
SL II
Progress & Achievement (2009-2011)
Volume:
4,685,400 m3
2009 Thorthormi lake surface area: 3.42km2
0.86m 2010
3.68m 1.37m
Volume: 1.45m
2,941,200 m3
Total volume released 2011
(2009+2010+2011): 12,414,600 m3 Volume:
4,788,000 m3
Goal: Bring down the lake level by 5m

Volume: 17,100,000 m3
Remaining level reduction: 1.32m

Volume: 4,514,400.00 m3
GLOF EWS
 17 Sirens in Total (3 at
Northern area and 14
on Punakha-Wangdi
valley)
 All Siren stations are

placed high above the
population centers for
maximum sound
projection.
 Sirens can be activated

from Control Room
automatically and also
manually
Windstorms
Abstract of the April 2011 Windstorm Damages (17 Dzongkhags)
S/N Type of Structure Affected Number
1 Rural Homes 2424
2 Lhakhangs 77
3 Chortens 4
4 Schools/NFE 57
5 BHUs/ORCs 21
6 RNR 6
7 Gup Office 4
8 RBP 3
Flash Floods
• Recurrent events
• Eastern and Southern regions most vulnerable
• Past events
– 2000 – Phuentsholing and Pasakha
– 2004 – East – 9 people lost lives
– May 2009 flash flood
Flash Floods
Flash Flood: Pasakha August 2000

Flash Flood: Pasakha August 2000
Flash Flood: Intake of Ranjung Power

Plant destroyed 2004 30
Flash Floods
Thimchhu flood during cyclone
Aila May 2009
Thimphu at Luntenphug during

cyclone Aila May 2009
2004 Flash flood eastern Bhutan
I. 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 - 18
m3 million
• All Dzongkhags and all Sectors
affected.
II. 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

Artificial Dam Formation
Tsatichhu artificial lake

formed in September Artificial lake burst
2003 on 10th July 2004
Landslides
Roadblock by Landslide
The Takti the roadblock is probably the biggest on the highway in recent years
Fires on Forest and Human Settlement
• Forest fires
– 99.9 % - manmade
– Thousands of acres of forests – burnt every year !!
• Fires on Human Settlement
– Unsafe habits – electrical wiring, crowded and temporary housing
– Extensive use of wood
– Numerous isolated events
- Wamrong - Oct’, 2009’.
- Chamkhar - 3 times
• Armed Forces
• Volunteer base
Fires on Forest and Human Settlement
Yangthang : Haa -2002

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ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF BHUTAN

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs

Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)

Forest fires/Structural fires

Pandemic-SARs, Bird flu,H1N1

Figure: Seismic Zonation Map of Bhutan,

Figure: Earthquake epicenters in Bhutan,

September 21st, 2009 Earthquake

September 18, 2011 Earthquake

Damage and Loss

Source: NSB, 2005

 River valleys are only

 Hazards due to GLOF and Flash

Minimum width of the

Goal: Bring down the lake level by 5m

Remaining level reduction: 1.32m

 All Siren stations are

 Sirens can be activated

Abstract of the April 2011 Windstorm Damages (17 Dzongkhags)

S/N Type of Structure Affected Number

1 Rural Homes 2424

Flash Flood: Pasakha August 2000

Flash Flood: Intake of Ranjung Power

Thimphu at Luntenphug during

• Total – Nu. 722 million

Tsatichhu artificial lake

Yangthang : Haa -2002

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