Safety report released for Annapurna, Nepal

One of the most popular trekking areas of Nepal has been given the green light by experts three months after powerful earthquakes rocked the country.

The first official report on earthquake-related damage in the Annapurna region has been welcomed by the Government of Nepal, trekking companies, and development agencies behind the assessment, who regard it as an important step towards the country’s economic recovery.

Tourism is Nepal’s largest source of foreign income, with more than 40 percent of the country’s 800,000 visitors each year coming for its iconic trekking and adventure activities. However, tour operators looking for reassurance on safety for travellers in the Annapurna region have had to rely on anecdotal evidence to date – resulting in, according to a statement from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, a decline in foreign tourists.

In a joint public-private initiative, earthquake engineering specialists Miyamoto received funding from Samarth-UKAID on behalf of the government of Nepal to conduct the expert assessment.  The report confirms that the Annapurna region, located in the Himalayas in north-central Nepal, sustained “very little damage, with the three per cent of buildings which were damaged in the earthquake all easily repairable.”

The assessment of the Annapurna region was conducted by a team of earthquake geotechnical experts, structural engineering experts, conservation officers from the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), and Intrepid Travel, whose local mountain guides provided their extensive knowledge of the region and insight into historical hazards. The team conducted a technical inspection of the main trekking routes and selected villages ahead of the monsoon season.    

The assessment is believed to be the first ever completed by international earthquake engineering specialists on trekking routes in Nepal, and the recommendations include opportunities to manage potential hazards not associated with the April and May earthquakes.  

The assessment also identified longer-term opportunities to reduce risks on the trails, including improved signage and communications for locals and visitors with information on natural hazards; providing engineering support for accommodation owners and construction workers to build back better and greatly improve accommodation structures on the trail.

SUMMARY OF THE ASSESSMENT

Annapurna region:

• Around 30 bridges were assessed, with no damage found.
• 250 buildings were assessed in the Annapurna region – with earthquake damage in only 6 buildings, all can be repaired easily.
• Overall the report concluded that the Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary trails and villages appear largely undamaged by landslides following the earthquakes.
• However, the engineering assessment identified a number of potential hazard areas on the trek that can now be remedied as a result of the report.
• Experts from Miyamoto have recommended a more in-depth follow up assessment to be completed after the monsoon season ends.