Tsunami of dirt: What caused Nepal’s deadly glacial flood?
A massive landslide triggered by glacial instability caused a deadly debris flow in Nepal's Bhote Koshi River valley. Experts warn that climate change is destabilizing Himalayan permafrost, increasing the risk of similar catastrophic events.
Why it matters
This disaster underscores the growing threat of climate-induced geological hazards in high-altitude regions, which are increasingly vulnerable to rapid environmental changes.
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 little warning.
The article relies on scientific analysis and expert commentary to explain the disaster, maintaining a neutral and informative tone.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in