How a glacier collapse may have caused Nepal-Tibet floods
Scientists believe a massive glacier collapse in the mountains near the Nepal-Tibet border triggered a catastrophic flood. The event, initially mistaken for an earthquake, sent a wall of debris and water downstream, destroying infrastructure.
Why it matters
This event underscores the increasing risks posed by climate-related geological instability in high-altitude regions.
A huge piece of ice that fell thousands of metres from a glacier into a river below may have unleashed the flooding disaster in Nepal and Tibet.
Here is what experts believe happened so far:
A glacier collapse in Nepal's mountains near Tibet appears to have triggered the disaster.
"A large chunk of glacier fell from about 5,200 metres... into a valley," said Simon Cox, principal scientist at New Zealand's GNS Science.
It "transformed into this raging mass of debris... where it picks up rocks and sediment and trees and anything in the way and fires it on down through the canyon," he said.
The wall of water first impacted a border post, as documented in terrifying CCTV footage showing mud and debris engulfing the area as people fled before it.
It then travelled downstream into Nepal, flooding villages and bringing down bridges and buildings.
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