Glacier collapse may have triggered deadly Nepal flash flood, experts say
USGS said a glacier collapse and debris flow generated a 5.2-magnitude seismic signal, as scientists examine whether warming temperatures helped trigger the flood.
- On Wednesday, a catastrophic flash flood swept through river valleys in Nepal and the Chinese territory of Tibet, killing at least 31 people with hundreds of tourists reported missing.
- Geologists attribute the surge to an ice avalanche where a massive chunk of ice snapped off a glacier and blocked the Lhende River, causing water to accumulate before breaching downstream.
- Geologist Daniel Shugar noted satellite imagery showed the glacier break occurred about 65 kilometres north of Kathmandu, with ice falling almost 1200 metres. Scientists are investigating a 4.4 magnitude earthquake near the site.
- Nepal's Flood Forecasting Division warned that risks remain in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli areas since the river blockage has not fully drained. Officials urged residents to stay away from rivers.
- Himalayan expert Farooq Azam said the region is "out of balance entirely" due to climate change and population pressure, echoing the 2021 Chamoli disaster that killed about 200 people.
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Glacial collapse triggered Nepal flash floods, not earthquake: USGS
Washington, Aug 27: The Nepal flash floods were triggered by a glacial collapse and not by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake as reported earlier, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The USGS said additional analysis of the long-period seismic waves indicated that the tremors were generated by a glacial collapse and debris flow. The flash floods originating in Tibet on Wednesday left a trail of death and destruction in Rasuwa and Dhading districts of …
A violent flood has hit Nepal after a glacier collapsed. Is this an effect of global warming? DN's climate editor Peter Alestig answers three questions.
Tsunami of dirt: what caused Nepal’s deadly glacial flood?
More than 150 people are dead and hundreds more missing after an enormous wave of water, ice, mud and rock cascaded more than 170 kilometres down the Bhote Koshi River valley in Nepal. The valley is the main link between Kathmandu in Nepal and Lhasa in Tibet. At least 34 Australians are missing. There was […] The post Tsunami of dirt: what caused Nepal’s deadly glacial flood? appeared first on Asia Times.
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