Glacier collapse may have caused Nepal-Tibet landslides, experts say
Summary
Experts say a large piece of glacier ice fell into a river near the Nepal-Tibet border, causing floods and landslides that killed at least 270 people. The collapse created a powerful flow of water and debris, which was first mistaken for an earthquake but was confirmed by the US Geological Survey as a seismic event caused by the glacier collapse.Key Facts
- A glacier collapse at about 5,200 meters elevation triggered floods and landslides on the Nepal-Tibet border.
- The falling glacier ice turned into a fast-moving mass of water, rocks, sediment, and trees.
- The event destroyed a border post and caused damage downstream in Nepal, including floods and collapsed bridges and buildings.
- The collapse generated seismic waves similar to a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, but it was not a real earthquake.
- Experts use satellite images and limited ground data to study the disaster because the area is hard to reach.
- Water monitoring stations downstream stopped sending data shortly after the collapse.
- Initial theories included the possibility of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), but the main cause was confirmed as glacier collapse.
- Climate change increases risks of such glacial events by causing glaciers to melt and become unstable.
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