Glacier collapse unleashes deadly flood across Nepal A catastrophic glacier collapse has been blamed for a devastating wall of water, mud and debris that tore through Nepal and Tibet, killing at least 165 people and leaving more than 1,300 missing. Entire villages have been submerged, bridges swept away and hundreds of tourists cut off as rescuers race into the disaster zone. A wall of ice, rock and water roared downhill Scientists believe a vast section of glacier snapped off and plunged nearly 1,200 metres into a valley north of Kathmandu. The impact pulverised the ice and dragged huge quantities of rock and sediment into the river, triggering a tsunami-like surge. The resulting torrent thundered down the Bhotikoshi and Trishuli river systems, carving a path of destruction stretching for dozens of miles. At Galchhi, water levels reportedly rose by as much as nine metres in just 30 minutes. Villages vanished beneath the mud The disaster has devastated communities along the river, destroying homes, buildings and vital bridges. In Tibet, Chinese state media reported three deaths and said 558 people remained missing after a mudslide struck the Gyirong Port. The force of the collapse also produced a seismic signal equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 event, according to the US Geological Survey. What was initially reported as an earthquake was instead linked to the enormous landslide. British tourists caught in the catastrophe At least 33 British tourists are among those reported missing, including children. Tour operators said groups travelling towards Mount Kailash lost contact after crossing into Tibet, while communications were disrupted across badly affected areas. One tour operator said the entire area around the border crossing had been swept away. “Even the Tibet immigration office,” he said. Rescuers face a race against time More than 5,000 Nepalese army and police personnel have been mobilised, with helicopters delivering food, tents and emergency supplies. But widespread power and internet failures, thick sediment and destroyed infrastructure are making the search increasingly difficult. The disaster has also intensified concern over the Himalayan environment. UN data has shown Nepal losing almost a third of its glacier ice in just over three decades, with melting accelerating sharply in recent years as global temperatures rise. Glacier collapse caused deadly Nepal flood, experts say
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