Everest region is a flashpoint for cryosphere-linked hazards, reveals ICIMOD’s new study
Summary
A new ICIMOD study reveals the Everest region and Dudh Koshi river basin as hotspots for glacial lake outburst floods, highlighting urgent risks amplified by climate change and calls for enhanced mitigation efforts.
Key Points
- The Everest region and Dudh Koshi river basin are flashpoints for frequent and severe glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
- The 2024 GLOF devastated Thame village in Solokhumbu, Nepal, through a complex chain of geological and geomorphological causes.
- Climate change is accelerating glacier retreat in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, increasing the number and severity of glacial lakes and associated flood risks.
- ICIMOD experts urge enhanced monitoring, protective engineering measures, and long-term flood risk management plans to mitigate future disasters.
