'Massive rock avalanche likely caused Nepal flood'
A massive rock avalanche in Nepal's Budhi Gandaki valley is suspected to have caused a destructive flash flood. Scientists believe the debris created a temporary dam that eventually failed, releasing water and sediment downstream.
Why it matters
This event highlights the increasing risks of glacial and mountain instability in the Himalayas due to environmental changes.
A massive rock avalanche, possibly involving glacial ice, may have triggered Sunday's destructive flash flood in Nepal's Budhi Gandaki valley after debris temporarily blocked a river, preliminary scientific assessments suggested.The disaster, which left five people missing and damaged houses, bridges and hydropower infrastructure, occurred 46 days after Rasuwa avalanche on Aug 26, less than 100km away.Christian Huggel, a University of Zurich professor, said avalanche likely originated on Chamar massif's southern slopes, where peaks exceed 7,000 metres. Cloud cover prevented identification of precise source, while scientists could not rule out glacial ice.
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