Deadly Nepal glacier collapse floods highlight Himalayan climate risks

A massive glacier collapse on Wednesday triggered catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border, killing hundreds and leaving more than 1,300 people missing in one of the Himalayas' most devastating recent disasters. The event has exposed the growing dangers in a rapidly warming mountain region where retreating ice and thawing permafrost are increasing landscape instability. The disaster began when a huge mass of ice and rock broke away from a glacier at approximately 5,200 meters above sea level. This avalanche of debris fell more than 1,200 meters into the valley, temporarily blocking the Lhende Khola river.