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A 'Himalayan tsunami' has just devastated Nepal. It should be a wake-up call [View all]
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/nepal-glacial-burst-collapse-floods-border-b2789199.htmlA ‘Himalayan tsunami’ has just devastated Nepal. It should be a wake-up call
Massive glacial bursts are becoming more frequent and more dangerous due to the climate crisis, experts tell Mukesh Pokhrel, warning: ‘They are not going to stop anytime soon’
Thursday 17 July 2025 10:57 BST
…
Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have become increasingly common in Nepal, driven by rapid warming in the Himalayas. Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology reports that temperatures in the Himalayan region have increased by 0.42C per decade between 2008 and 2018 – nearly double the global average.
Nepal lost 24 per cent of its glaciers due to global warming between 1977 and 2010, the most recent data available, contributing to a substantial decline in freshwater reserves in the Himalayas. In the Himalayan region, the number of glacial lakes and their area are rapidly increasing.
A study by ICIMOD found that the number of glacial lakes in Nepal increased by 154 per cent between 1977 and 2017, while their total area expanded by about 46 per cent. Nepal currently shares more than 1,500km of mountainous border with China, and many of its rivers, including the Bhotekoshi, originate in Tibet.
A 2020 survey by ICIMOD and the UN Development Programme identified 3,624 glacial lakes across the region's three river basins. Of these, 47 were found to be at high risk of bursting, with 25 located in Tibet. One of the most dangerous is Thulagi Lake in Manang District, which holds an estimated 36 million cubic metres of water. If it were to burst, the resulting flood could impact over 160,000 people downstream and cause damage estimated at $415m.
…
Massive glacial bursts are becoming more frequent and more dangerous due to the climate crisis, experts tell Mukesh Pokhrel, warning: ‘They are not going to stop anytime soon’
Thursday 17 July 2025 10:57 BST
…
Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have become increasingly common in Nepal, driven by rapid warming in the Himalayas. Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology reports that temperatures in the Himalayan region have increased by 0.42C per decade between 2008 and 2018 – nearly double the global average.
Nepal lost 24 per cent of its glaciers due to global warming between 1977 and 2010, the most recent data available, contributing to a substantial decline in freshwater reserves in the Himalayas. In the Himalayan region, the number of glacial lakes and their area are rapidly increasing.
A study by ICIMOD found that the number of glacial lakes in Nepal increased by 154 per cent between 1977 and 2017, while their total area expanded by about 46 per cent. Nepal currently shares more than 1,500km of mountainous border with China, and many of its rivers, including the Bhotekoshi, originate in Tibet.
A 2020 survey by ICIMOD and the UN Development Programme identified 3,624 glacial lakes across the region's three river basins. Of these, 47 were found to be at high risk of bursting, with 25 located in Tibet. One of the most dangerous is Thulagi Lake in Manang District, which holds an estimated 36 million cubic metres of water. If it were to burst, the resulting flood could impact over 160,000 people downstream and cause damage estimated at $415m.
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