What we know about deadly Nepal-Tibet floods
A catastrophic flood event on the Nepal-Tibet border, initially thought to be an earthquake, has been identified by the USGS as a glacial collapse and debris flow. The disaster has resulted in significant casualties and widespread destruction, with experts linking the event to climate-driven glacier melt.
Why it matters
The event underscores the increasing risks of climate change-induced natural disasters in high-altitude regions.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Olivia Ireland and Henry Moore Video shows scale of flash flood hitting Nepal-Tibet border Massive landslides and flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border have caused widespread damage and left hundreds dead or missing.
Search and rescue operations are under way. Chinese state media has said there are significant casualties, while Nepalese officials anticipate "huge scale loss".
Nepal's foreign minister initially said an earthquake was reported on the Tibet-Nepal border shortly before the landslide, suggesting it may have triggered the disaster.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) had first reported the event as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake on Wednesday, but later confirmed the incident "was instead a glacial collapse and debris flow" that "caused subsequent catastrophic impacts downstream".
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