As climate change warms the Himalayas, disasters like the Nepal floods are becoming more frequent

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A recent series of flash floods in Nepal and neighboring China have killed over 1,000 people and left thousands missing, with the disaster triggered by a collapse of bedrock and glacier ice sending debris and water surging through multiple Himalayan rivers. Scientists attribute this catastrophe to climate change, highlighting that the region is warming considerably faster than other parts of the world due to rising global temperatures.

Saswata Sanyal, a disaster risk resilience expert at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, explains that the Himalayas are experiencing a cascade of hazards, including melting high mountain ice, increased rockslides, avalanches, and floods, all of which are exacerbated by global warming. The region's communities face a growing challenge in rebuilding from one disaster to the next, raising concerns about their long-term resilience as climate change accelerates.

Brief written by urgent.news from Associated Press's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.