Glaciers responsible for the destructive Nepal-China Himalayan floods are at risk of a major collapse, indicating another impending disaster. The death toll from these catastrophic floods has officially passed 1,000 as of today, while 4,500 people are still missing, and approximately 500 workers are currently trapped across 12 hydropower tunnels.
Floodwaters have swept away lives, homes, and infrastructure. The regions most impacted are Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, particularly communities situated along the Trishuli River.
China’s Ministry of Water Resources has warned of a “major risk” of glacial collapse near Cuojian River in Nepal. Meanwhile Nepal’s disaster authority has also warned of a lake formed by debris that is blocking the flow of river at the flood site. This significantly increases the risk of a breach as water levels behind debris dams rise rapidly. A lake near the Tibet-Nepal border had already suffered a localized breach. A further breach could cause massive waves of floodwaters.
Amid warnings of glacial collapse, fresh torrents of water are expected to cause further destruction and havoc. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery on Monday showed that the area of the water body at the impact crater of Nepal’s Cuojian River had considerably shrunk from 108,000 square meters on Sunday to 83,000 square meters on Monday. This exacerbates the risk of further landslides that could block the flow of the river and potentially cause a structural collapse of the deep mountain bedrock.
UN officials and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have stated that Nepal’s infrastructure is entirely defenseless against these forms of “mud and ice tidal waves.” The first wave impacted 15 major power stations under construction and caused massive damage to those that were operational.
The prospect of further rainfall will also affect rescue missions and make roads unsuitable for heavy machinery, slowing down work. The race against time to rescue workers from hydropower tunnels has also reached a critical point. Crews are employing controlled explosions, drills and heavy excavators in attempts to clear paths.
More than 800 foreigners are among those reported missing in Nepal, according to the official registry maintained by Nepal’s Tourism Department. In downstream cities, officials have begun mass burials of unidentified victims as they await international DNA kits to arrive.
The world has expressed solidarity and support for those hit by disaster. US President Donald Trump said that the damage caused by floods was terrible, and described their impact as “strong, well-built buildings were wiped out like they were toothpicks”.
While rescue missions operate, the floods have also given rise to friction between China and Nepal regarding data sharing protocols. Nepal alleges that China has not shared vital real-time data on water levels and glacial risks, hampering its ability to conduct downstream evacuations. China has denied such claims.
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