Melting Himalayas? Nepal disaster exposes growing risk of glacial flooding

One of the tragic consequences of global warming. Scientists will tell us whether receding glaciers are to blame for last Wednesday’s ice shelf collapse that triggered a catastrophic flood, cascading down more than 3,000 meters from the Chinese border into Nepal.

A pair of disasters have occurred within a month of each other in the Himalayas, where scientists, climbers and trekkers have witnessed accelerating losses of snow and ice.

"Europe is among the continents warming the fastest, driven by human-made climate change. Rapidly retreating glaciers and thawing permafrost are destabilising high mountain regions," glaciologist Olaf Eisen said.

A glacier unleashed a deadly flood earlier this week. For local trekking guides and climbers, the mountains were already changing.

The scale of the disaster in the Himalayas is becoming clearer a day after catastrophic flooding tore through parts of Nepal and Tibet. Scientists believe the disaster was likely triggered by the collapse of a glacier, unleashing a torrent of water, mud and debris that swept away entire communities. Geoff Bennett discu

Thirty-four Australians are among the missing after an avalanche of ice and rock hit parts of Nepal and China.

Thirty-four Australians are among the missing after an avalanche of ice and rock hit parts of Nepal and China.