The 26 August 2026 catastrophic debris flow in Nepal and Tibet

A catastrophic debris flow tore through Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, triggered by the collapse of a glacier high in the Himalayas near the Gyirong border crossing. Eos reports around four hundred people are confirmed dead, with officials cautioning the toll is likely to rise. Some reports have pointed to an earthquake as the trigger, but per Eos, that reading likely mistakes the seismic signature of the rock and ice avalanche itself for a tectonic event. The border crossing and at least two hydroelectric schemes along the Bhote Khosi river were destroyed, and an international scientific team has now begun work to piece together exactly how the disaster unfolded.

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