Himalayan glacier break suspected in catastrophic Nepal-Tibet flooding

A massive ice chunk from a glacier is thought to have plunged into a river, triggering the devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet that have claimed at least 180 lives. More than 1,300 people, including foreigners and pilgrims, remain unaccounted for, and hundreds have been forced from their homes across the Himalayan region.

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The disaster unfolded when a massive ice block detached from a high-altitude glacier and plummeted thousands of metres into the river system below, sending a surge of water and debris downstream. The sudden wall of water overwhelmed communities on both sides of the Nepal-Tibet border, catching residents and visitors unprepared.

Rescue and recovery efforts face significant obstacles from the rugged Himalayan terrain and the enormous scale of the missing persons list, which includes international travellers and religious pilgrims. The event has drawn renewed attention to the vulnerability of mountain communities to sudden