Nepal-Tibet Glacier Collapse Leaves 165 Dead, Hundreds Missing

A sudden torrent across a mountain border

A glacier collapse high in the Himalayas sent water, ice, rock and mud through river valleys along the Nepal-Tibet border on Wednesday, killing at least 165 people. Nepalese police reported 162 deaths, while Chinese authorities confirmed three in Tibet's Gyirong County; hundreds remained unaccounted for as rescuers worked through Thursday.nytimes +1 The disaster struck without heavy rain, giving communities little warning before the surge swept through settlements and a busy border crossing.aljazeera +1

An ice avalanche became a fast-moving flood

Preliminary satellite analysis indicates that a large section of glacier broke away at roughly 5,200 metres, fell about 1,200 metres and gathered rock and sediment before entering the Lhende River system. Debris appears to have briefly dammed the river before releasing a powerful surge into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers.aljazeera A tremor first reported as an earthquake was later identified by the US Geological Survey as seismic energy generated by the collapsing ice and rock; the landslide registered as a magnitude 5.2 event.nytimes +1

The torrent destroyed homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure in Nepal's Rasuwa district and hit Gyirong Port across the border. At least 19 bridges and about 40 kilometres of road were washed away, while deep mud, severed communications and unstable slopes blocked access to some communities.aljazeera +1 Authorities also warned residents downstream in Nepal and evacuated thousands in India's Bihar state as the flood moved through connected river systems.nbcnews +1

Rescue teams race against damaged roads and fresh rain

Nepal deployed more than 5,000 army and police personnel, helicopters, drones and search dogs, but high water and damaged landing areas constrained operations. China sent military and specialist rescue teams toward Gyirong, where roads, electricity and communications were cut.aljazeera +1 Nepal's army had airlifted at least 114 people and established a temporary hospital, while international relief agencies began releasing emergency funds and supplies.nytimes

Foreign tourists and pilgrims made up a substantial share of those missing. Nepal's tourism authorities were still reconciling changing counts, with citizens of India, the United States, Australia, Britain and Canada among those unaccounted for.nytimes +1 Twenty-four Canadians were reported missing, and Ottawa warned that power outages could delay contact with people in the region.cbc +1 Scientists cautioned that the precise trigger remains under investigation, even as rapid Himalayan warming and retreating glaciers increase the hazards facing steep downstream valleys.aljazeera +1