Commentary
Glaciers worldwide are in retreat, which can lead to more floods and debris flow disasters, says this researcher.
A flooded road following a flash flood in Galchhi in the Dhading district, Nepal, Aug 26, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer
27 Aug 2026 06:37PM
MELBOURNE: More than 270 people are dead and hundreds more missing (as of Thursday, Aug 27) after an enormous wave of water, ice, mud and rock cascaded more than 170km down the Bhote Koshi River valley in Nepal.The valley is the main link between Kathmandu in Nepal and Lhasa in Tibet. There was little warning.Footage of the debris-laden flash flood is shocking. It is, unfortunately, not surprising.As an expert in glaciers, I have tracked their accelerating retreat around the world as they melt – and the disasters that can follow. Early analysis suggests the abrupt collapse of a glacier triggered the disaster.
