Aug 27, Kathmandu - Scientists attribute the destructive flood in Nepal's Bhote Koshi to a colossal geophysical event and subsequent chain reactions. According to ABC News, Professor Goran Ekström of Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory explained that a powerful landslide in the Himalayan region caused a massive glacier or its main part to be swept away. The landslide was so intense that it generated seismic vibrations equivalent to a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, recorded worldwide.

Professor Ekström noted that the rapid fall of rocks from the mountain released enormous energy, melting the glacier and resulting in a surge of water laden with sediments from the mountain’s edge. While similar events have occurred before in the Himalayan region, this was characterized as a significant geophysical catastrophe.

He explained that the energy released by falling rocks heats the surrounding area, causing glaciers to melt rapidly. This process likely led to the high volume of water flowing down the slopes, which was estimated to reach depths of 130 to 160 feet and move at speeds of around 44 miles per hour.

Professor Ekström also highlighted that climate change is accelerating glacier melt worldwide. While natural landslides are common, he warns that climate change could increase the frequency and severity of such catastrophic events.