# Rasuwa Cascade — 3D news story map

A GitHub Pages-ready, static interactive map of the 26 August 2026 Rasuwa glacial-collapse, debris-flow and flash-flood disaster. The selected study area follows the connected Lhende–Bhote Koshi–upper Trishuli corridor from the satellite-located collapse source through Rasuwagadhi, Timure, Syabrubesi, Mailung, Betrawati, Trishuli Bazaar, Bidur and Devighat.

**[Open the interactive 3D map](https://nrahaman1.github.io/rasuwa-cascade-3d-map/)**  
**[View the source repository](https://github.com/nrahaman1/rasuwa-cascade-3d-map)**

## Why this study area

This corridor contains the complete cascading-hazard sequence discussed in the project concept: a high-mountain mass movement, temporary blockage/debris mobilisation, a confined river gorge, hydropower and transport infrastructure, and downstream population exposure. The USGS event record was updated on 26 August 2026 to classify the seismic signal as a **glacial collapse and debris flow**, not an earthquake. Its satellite-estimated centroid is **28.271°N, 85.515°E**.

## Run locally

The site uses separate JavaScript and GeoJSON files, so serve the folder over HTTP rather than double-clicking `index.html`:

```powershell
python -m http.server 8000
```

Then open `http://localhost:8000`.

## Deployment

The public site is deployed directly from the `main` branch through GitHub Pages: **[nrahaman1.github.io/rasuwa-cascade-3d-map](https://nrahaman1.github.io/rasuwa-cascade-3d-map/)**.

No API key or build step is required. The map uses MapLibre GL JS, OpenFreeMap, Esri World Imagery, AWS Terrain Tiles, embedded OpenStreetMap river geometry, and publisher-hosted news images.

## Data and attribution

- **Event location and classification:** [USGS event us7000tbwb](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000tbwb). The record states that the initial earthquake interpretation was replaced by glacial-collapse/debris-flow classification after seismic and satellite analysis.
- **Rivers:** OpenStreetMap contributors, queried through Overpass API on 26 August 2026 and converted to GeoJSON. The extracted geometry is subject to the [Open Database License](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).
- **Terrain:** [AWS Terrain Tiles](https://registry.opendata.aws/terrain-tiles/) (Terrarium encoding).
- **Satellite basemap:** [Esri World Imagery](https://services.arcgisonline.com/ArcGIS/rest/services/World_Imagery/MapServer), credited to Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community. The imagery is draped over the elevation model to create the 3D view.
- **Basemap:** [OpenFreeMap](https://openfreemap.org/) with OpenStreetMap-derived data.
- **News photos:** Images are not copied into this repository. They remain hosted by their publishers and are displayed with direct links to the originating article. Publishers may change or block them. Verify reuse rights before screenshots, redistribution or publication in a paper.
- **Geocoding:** Settlement coordinates were checked with OpenStreetMap/Nominatim. The source coordinate is from USGS.

## Important limitations

- This is a research and public-communication prototype, not an operational warning system.
- Casualty and missing-person figures in same-day news reports changed rapidly. The source index is timestamped and links to the publisher for updates.
- Interest-point coordinates represent named places, not surveyed damage footprints. Do not use them as field-navigation coordinates without local verification.
- The highlighted flood path is a cartographic narrative line following the reported connected river corridor. It is not a hydraulic-model result or inundation boundary.

## Project structure

```text
index.html             Main map
styles.css             Responsive visual design
app.js                  Map interaction and layers
news-data.js            Locations and linked reporting
sources.html            Searchable source index
data/rivers.geojson     Embedded OSM river geometry
scripts/                Reproducible data-preparation helpers
```

## Refreshing the map

- Add or revise articles in `news-data.js` and associate their IDs with one or more sites.
- Re-run the Overpass query documented in `data/RIVERS_SOURCE.md`, then run `node scripts/convert-overpass.mjs <downloaded.json> data/rivers.geojson`.

Code is provided under the MIT License. Third-party data and media retain their original terms.