Climate ChangeGlacier retreat and changing freeze-thaw cycles are contributing to slope instabilityA drone view shows mud covering properties following a glacier disaster in Trishuli, Nuwakot district, Nepal, on Aug. 27. © ReutersCHRIS RUSSELLAugust 28, 2026 15:05 JSTTOKYO -- As glaciers retreat and freeze-thaw cycles shift in the Himalayas, increasing mountain instability, scientists say disasters like the avalanche that struck a valley at the Nepal-China border may become more likely. That, in turn, is making improved warning systems vital, particularly in a region scientists say is experiencing much faster warming than the global average.