Nepal's 'Himalayan tsunami': what we know
Summary
Nepal is reeling from a deadly glacial mountain collapse on the border with China that killed more than 1,300 people and left more than 5,600 missing in both countries. Scientists say climate change may have increased the slope’s vulnerability, but the exact trigger remains unclear.
Key Points
- A massive ice-and-rock collapse on August 26 sent debris racing down the valley from Langtang Lirung near the Nepal-China border.
- The disaster killed more than 1,300 people and left upwards of 5,600 missing in Nepal and China.
- Experts say glacier retreat, warming temperatures and permafrost degradation may have weakened the slope, but no single trigger has been identified.
- Scientists are calling for better monitoring, data sharing and coordination to help predict similar disasters in the future.
