What experts know so far about Nepal’s deadly floods

Deadly flash floods and landslides along the Nepal-Tibet border have left at least 165 people dead, sweeping away whole villages. The cause remains uncertain, but experts believe glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) and glacial collapses are to blame. Nepal's Foreign Minister initially suggested an earthquake triggered the disaster, but the US Geological Survey later determined the seismic energy was from glacial collapse.

Dorothy Heinrich, a researcher at the University of Reading, highlighted the dangers of GLOFs due to climate change in the Himalayas, including increased heat waves, glacial retreat, and permafrost reduction. Attribution studies, which compare the likelihood of events in today's climate to the pre-industrial era, are used to determine if an event is linked to climate change.

A preliminary assessment by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) found no anomalies upstream of the border. Hydrologist Hatim Sharif noted the absence of rainfall before the disaster, which he said makes flood warnings ineffective. The only safe escape route is to climb to a high elevation, ideally above 20 feet. A potential long-term solution could involve installing real-time river level gauges to give residents crucial warning time.