Devastating flash floods in Nepal were triggered by a massive landslide and the subsequent tumble of at least a portion of a glacier down the Himalayas, according to a geophysicist studying the event. The powerful incident, which occurred Wednesday, set off a chain reaction that led to the severe flooding.
Göran Ekström, a geophysicist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, told ABC News that the landslide alone was powerful enough to register a 5.2 magnitude earthquake on seismographs globally. He described the event as a "massive geophysical event."
Ekström explained that the energy generated by rocks falling down a mountain can generate heat, potentially melting the glacier. This melting could be the cause of the extremely high water levels observed at the foot of the mountain. He estimated the floodwaters in the valley to be between 130 to 160 feet high and moving as fast as 44 miles per hour.
While such geological events can occur naturally in the Himalayas, Ekström suggested that climate change might be exacerbating their frequency and intensity. "In general, these landslides in these mountainous regions are becoming more frequent, that has been determined, and that is linked to the melting of glaciers," he said.
As of Wednesday evening, local authorities reported at least 157 fatalities and 75 injuries. The Nepal Tourism Board stated that 384 people, including 291 foreigners and 93 Nepalis, remain missing from the affected areas. Among the missing are at least 47 American tourists.