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Climate Change May Trigger More Glacier Collapses, Scientists Warn
🇷🇸 Serbia /Environment & Climate

Climate Change May Trigger More Glacier Collapses, Scientists Warn

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Scientists are alarmed by the scale of a recent disaster involving glacier collapses and floods on the Nepal-China border, suspecting climate change as a contributing factor.
  • The event caused massive destruction, sweeping away bridges and devastating villages, with rescue efforts relying solely on helicopters.
  • The floods have also damaged crucial infrastructure, impacting Nepal's trade with its second-largest partner, China, and raising concerns about the economic consequences.

Scientists express shock at the immense scale of a recent disaster on the Nepal-China border, where a massive glacier collapse triggered devastating floods. Initial assessments suggest that climate change may be exacerbating such events, leading to increased risks in high-mountain regions.

I think some people thought the earthquake caused the avalanche, but we have a seismologist on our team who is convinced that it was actually the collapsing glacier that hit the bottom of the valley. That tells you the enormous scale of this event.

— Simon KukSimon Kuk, a senior lecturer at the University of Dundee, described the scale of the disaster and the scientific team's analysis of its cause.

Researchers reviewing satellite imagery noticed the lower part of a glacier missing near the flooded areas, indicating a significant ice avalanche or collapse. While some initially speculated an earthquake caused the event, seismologists within the research team believe the collapsing glacier itself struck the valley floor, highlighting the catastrophic magnitude of the incident. This event follows a pattern of similar occurrences in the Himalayas, Switzerland, and Italy in recent years.

I think we haven't seen anything with this force for a long time.

— Alan HinksExperienced mountaineer Alan Hinks commented on the unprecedented power and violence of the flash floods.

Experts theorize that global warming is likely causing permafrost to melt and degrade. This permanently frozen ground plays a role in stabilizing mountain slopes. Its destabilization, they explain, leads to more frequent landslides, debris flows, glacial lake outbursts, and glacier collapses. The sheer power of the recent floods, described as "explosive" and "violent," has left experienced mountaineers astounded.

In the moment the only possibility is helicopters. All the bridges have been washed away.

— Alan HinksHinks explained the challenges of the rescue operation due to the destruction of infrastructure.

The disaster has had a profound human and economic impact. The floods have destroyed all bridges in the affected valley, making helicopters the only means of rescue and access. Entire villages have been swept away or buried under mud, leaving a scene of complete devastation. Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, the destruction of key infrastructure along the border with China, Nepal's second-largest trading partner, poses significant economic challenges for the country.

The entire valley is completely devastated, and buildings on either side of the river have either been washed away or are now buried in mud.

— Alan HinksHinks described the extensive destruction of the valley and its settlements.
About this summary

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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