'Like a movie scene': Chain of events that led to Nepal floods that killed over 600
A massive glacier and rock collapse in the Himalayas triggered a catastrophic flash flood in Nepal, resulting in over 600 deaths. While initial reports suspected an earthquake, satellite analysis confirmed the collapse of a 600-meter-wide glacier section caused the disaster.
Why it matters
This event highlights the increasing risks of glacial instability and climate-related natural disasters in mountainous regions, posing significant threats to downstream communities.
A massive glacier and rock collapse high in Nepal’s Himalayas appears to have set off a chain of events that culminated in one of the country’s deadliest flash floods in years, killing over 600 people and leaving thousands missing in Nepal and neighbouring Tibet.The disaster began high in the mountains on Wednesday when a huge section of glacier and rock collapsed into the Lhende Khola valley near the Nepal-China border. The falling mass blocked the river before a surge of water, ice and debris burst through the valley, sweeping downstream into the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems.The scale of the destruction has since become clearer.
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