JAKARTA, Signalberita.com — Flash floods that swept through several areas of Nepal since Wednesday (Aug. 26, 2026) have killed at least 157 people and injured another 75, while hundreds of people remain missing.
The disaster is believed to be linked to a major geophysical event in the Himalayan mountain range. The phenomenon involved a massive landslide that triggered the collapse of part of a glacier, sending a huge volume of water and debris rushing toward the valleys.
Geophysicist Goran Ekström of Columbia University’s Earth Observatory told ABC News that a landslide occurred in a mountain gap during the day. Large amounts of rock then moved downhill, striking and destabilizing part of the glacier.
The event generated vibrations strong enough to be detected by seismographs in various parts of the world and was recorded as a magnitude 5.2 earthquake.
Ekström described the incident as a large-scale geophysical event. He explained that the movement of rocks, ice and other debris generated enormous energy and contributed to the rapid melting and collapse of glacier ice.
The resulting water flowed into the valleys in massive volumes. The combination of water, ice and landslide debris moved at extremely high speeds, producing a destructive flash flood.
Floodwaters were estimated to reach between 130 and 160 feet, or approximately 39 to 48 meters, in height. The flow may have reached speeds of up to 44 miles per hour, or around 71 kilometers per hour.
Climate Change May Have Worsened the Disaster
In addition to the landslide and glacier conditions, climate change is also being considered as a factor that could have intensified the disaster.
Ekström explained that rising global temperatures are accelerating the melting of ice and glaciers in many parts of the world. Such conditions may increase the vulnerability of mountainous areas to disasters involving landslides, glacier collapse and sudden water flows.
However, he stressed that events of this nature can occur even without climate change. Nevertheless, global warming may increase the severity or frequency of certain hazards associated with unstable mountain environments.
According to Ekström, landslides in the Himalayan region have become increasingly common, with some incidents linked to changing glacier conditions and ongoing ice loss.
The flash floods along the Nepal-China border have drawn international attention after causing significant loss of life and leaving hundreds of people unaccounted for.
Local authorities and rescue teams continue to search for residents and tourists who are believed to have been swept away or trapped by the powerful floodwaters.(*)
