A scientific analysis published by the second scientific research and exploration group in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau on September 11 (local time) showed that the glacial landslide that occurred in Nepal on August 26 and spread across the border to China has been identified as one of the most extreme and brutal natural disasters ever recorded in the Himalayas.
The landslide originated from a 3.13 km2 iceberg in Nepal, with the downstream part lying along the 22km long river border adjacent to China and a height difference of about 3.5 km to the Cat Long border gate.
The separate ice block is about 980m wide and 780m long, covering an area of 0.76 km2 with an estimated volume of more than 70 million m3.
After the landslide, the ice mass swept through the glacial valley, sweeping away both old and new ice when it poured downstream. The research team discovered that this current had widened the riverbed from 170m to 700m, and its direct impact stretched over a distance of more than 80km.
Seismic stations recorded a magnitude 5.2 earthquake caused by the glacier landslide and its chain reaction. The event began at 10:52 am on August 26 and debris arrived at Cat Long border gate just 7 minutes later, at 10:59 am, showing a moving speed of nearly 190 km/h. The research team described this disaster as having the characteristics of: starting at high altitude, amplified at low altitude, spreading in chains and causing immediate destruction.
The glacial landslide has caused significant casualties and economic damage on both sides of the border, making it one of the most extreme and devastating natural disasters ever recorded in the Himalayas.
The research group believes that the cause of the disaster is due to the expansion of ice cracks and the rate of water discharge flowing inside as well as the increase in glacier beds under the impact of global warming. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is warming at a rate about twice the global average, and in areas with extremely high altitudes, this rate is up to three times the global average.
Satellite image analysis from August 12-24 shows that the ice mass moves at a speed of about 0.4 m/day - many times faster than the normal movement speed of glaciers. The research team determined that this is an important warning sign indicating increased bedrock lubrication and the risk of imminent collapse.
The research team said that the Chhochen Khola glacial landslide in Nepal and its chain reaction are new evidence that the frequency and intensity of ice-related disasters are increasing due to climate change, causing serious challenges to residential areas in high mountainous areas.
The research group recommends prioritizing iceberg landslide monitoring and database development; conducting surveys of key indicators of iceberg collapse risks, as well as chain reaction development and spread mechanisms; and strengthening scientific assessment capacity and regional coordination to improve accuracy in risk assessment and emergency response capabilities.
