Satellite images show bedrock and glacier collapsed on Nepal-China border, then rivers flooded

Rescue efforts are underway following catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border that killed hundreds and left many missing. Satellite images revealed that part of a glacier had broken off from Langtang Lirung peak, causing bedrock underneath to collapse. This massive chunk of ice and rock then sent debris into the valley, burying villages downstream.

The Trishuli River swelled during the flooding, turning a greenish color due to the sediment carried by the water. Towns and villages along the riverbanks are now submerged in debris and mud, with some houses barely visible. This is the largest glacier flood the mountain geographer Alton Byers has witnessed, and he believes it is related to climate change.

While a direct causal link has not been confirmed, warming trends are causing glaciers to melt and permafrost to weaken, increasing the risk of such events.