Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA violent glacier collapse in Tibet, which produced a magnitude 5.2 seismic signal, triggered Himalayan flash floods that killed at least 380 people and left 1,500 missing across Nepal and Tibet. Satellite imagery showed a section of the glacier breaking off at an altitude of 5,200 metres and falling 1,200 metres into the Lhende River, briefly damming it before releasing a deluge downstream. The sudden surge caught authorities and residents off guard as water levels rose by nine metres in 30 minutes without rain, destroying at least 19 bridges and 40 kilometres of roads. Authorities in Nepal and China have warned that an imminent secondary flood could occur as debris continues to block upstream rivers and threaten glacial lake breaches. While scientists examine climate change links to rapidly melting Himalayan glaciers, experts are calling for early-warning systems to help mitigate future disasters. In fullWhat triggered Nepal flash floods? And why are experts worried a second flood is ‘imminent’?More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Cause of Nepal flash floods explained as hundreds dead and around 1,500 missing
Jump to contentAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleA violent glacier collapse in Tibet, which produced a magnitude 5.2 seismic signal, triggered Himalayan flash floods that killed at least 380 people and left 1,500 missing across Nepal and Tibet. Satellite imagery showed a section of the glacier breaking off at an altitude of 5,200 metres and falling 1,200 metres into the Lhende River, briefly damming it before releasing a deluge downstream. The sudden surge caught authorities and residents off guard as water levels rose by nine metres in 30 minutes without rain, destroying at least 19 bridges and 40 kilometres of roads. Authorities in Nepal and China have warned that an imminent secondary flood could occur as debris continues to block upstream rivers and threaten glacial lake breaches. While scientists examine climate change links to rapidly melting Himalayan glaciers, experts are calling for early-warning systems to help mitigate future disasters. In fullWhat triggered Nepal flash floods? And why are experts worried a second flood is ‘imminent’?More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
