Nepal-China border landslide vibration equals magnitude 5.2 earthquake

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has determined that the seismic vibrations from a large landslide near the Nepal-China border were equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake. The incident occurred on the morning of August 26, local time, approximately 55 kilometers northwest of Kodari, Nepal.

Initially, the USGS reported the event as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake. However, after conducting additional analysis of long-period seismic waves, the agency reclassified the phenomenon. The USGS concluded that the energy detected originated from the landslide rather than a tectonic earthquake. The depth of the event was recorded as 0 km.

At the time the strong vibrations were felt, a significant amount of snow and rock detached from a glacier, cascading down the mountainside into the Rendekola River, a tributary of the Botekoshi River. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), headquartered in Kathmandu, suggests that a landslide originating from a glacier on the Nepalese side likely triggered a sudden outburst flood.

This event is presumed to have occurred when the landslide blocked the Rendekola River, leading to a subsequent catastrophic release of water that inundated downstream areas. The reclassification highlights the significant seismic impact that large-scale natural disasters like landslides can have, mimicking the intensity of moderate earthquakes.

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This event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, but after additional analysis of long-period seismic waves, it was confirmed that the earthquake energy originated from the landslide.