Death Toll From Nepal Floods Rises to 160: "Not an Earthquake, But a Glacial Collapse Disaster"

The death toll from the massive floods in the Himalayan mountainous region of north-central Nepal, bordering China, has risen to at least 160.

An earthquake initially pointed to as the cause of the disaster was actually a pseudo-seismic phenomenon triggered by a glacial collapse, according to further analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

According to the AP and AFP wire services on the 26th (local time), Nepalese police announced that they recovered 157 bodies through search operations that day.

Earlier, China's state-run CCTV also reported that three people died in the Tibet region near the border, bringing the total number of recorded deaths to 160.

Nepal's Ministry of Tourism reported that 403 tourists are currently missing, 341 of whom are foreigners, and stated that 28 police officers have also lost contact.

The Chinese side has also reported 265 missing persons.

Nine South Koreans affiliated with Korea South-East Power and Doosan Enerbility, who lost contact near a local hydroelectric power plant construction site, are also among the missing.

The government plans to urgently dispatch a joint rapid response team consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Fire Agency, and the Korean National Police Agency to the site.

The floods and landslides swept away and obliterated entire villages, and at least 19 bridges were washed away.

Following further analysis, the USGS revised its previous report, changing a magnitude 4.4 earthquake initially blamed for the landslides and floods to a magnitude 5.2 glacial collapse event.

The geological survey stated, "A magnitude 5.2 seismic wave event occurred near the Nepal-China border," adding, "We determined that this event was caused by a glacial collapse and debris flow, which triggered cascading catastrophic impacts downstream."

It explained that although the event was initially reported as a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, additional analysis of nearby seismic stations, long-period seismic waves, and satellite imagery led to the conclusion that no earthquake had actually occurred.

Climate experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), headquartered in Kathmandu, also explained that a massive avalanche from a glacier in the warming Himalayan region likely blocked a river, which then burst and unleashed a torrent of rushing water.

Zhang Changong, head of climate and environmental risks at ICIMOD, warned, "Blockages still remain in the upper reaches of the river on the Nepal-China border, meaning a second flood could occur."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.