A 'Himalayan tsunami' has just devastated Nepal. It should be a wake-up call

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/nepal-glacial-burst-collapse-floods-border-b2789199.html

A ‘Himalayan tsunami’ has just devastated Nepal. It should be a wake-up call
Massive glacial bursts are becoming more frequent and more dangerous due to the climate crisis, experts tell Mukesh Pokhrel, warning: ‘They are not going to stop anytime soon’

Thursday 17 July 2025 10:57 BST

…

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have become increasingly common in Nepal, driven by rapid warming in the Himalayas. Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology reports that temperatures in the Himalayan region have increased by 0.42C per decade between 2008 and 2018 – nearly double the global average.

Nepal lost 24 per cent of its glaciers due to global warming between 1977 and 2010, the most recent data available, contributing to a substantial decline in freshwater reserves in the Himalayas. In the Himalayan region, the number of glacial lakes and their area are rapidly increasing.

A study by ICIMOD found that the number of glacial lakes in Nepal increased by 154 per cent between 1977 and 2017, while their total area expanded by about 46 per cent. Nepal currently shares more than 1,500km of mountainous border with China, and many of its rivers, including the Bhotekoshi, originate in Tibet.

A 2020 survey by ICIMOD and the UN Development Programme identified 3,624 glacial lakes across the region's three river basins. Of these, 47 were found to be at high risk of bursting, with 25 located in Tibet. One of the most dangerous is Thulagi Lake in Manang District, which holds an estimated 36 million cubic metres of water. If it were to burst, the resulting flood could impact over 160,000 people downstream and cause damage estimated at $415m.

…

[Irish_Dem]

1. I wonder when regular people start seeing the connection between extreme weather and climate change?

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. A lot of "regular people" do not acknowledge that either has changed

“It’s Summer. — It gets hot in the Summer.”
“We’ve had floods before…”

[Irish_Dem]

4. Every night on the TV news we see more flooding across US cities and towns.

At some point, perhaps regular people can no longer deny something is different.

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. The power of denial is tremendous

For example, one might deny that the Earth is spherical, or that the Apollo astronauts landed on the moon. People who fervently believe these things are not persuaded by evidence which contradicts them.

One may deny that COVID-19 is a threat, or even real, while lying in an ICU, dying from it. I know of a woman who was hospitalized twice with COVID-19 (or who had life-threatening symptoms which matched those reported for COVID-19.) She steadfastly maintained that her Dr’s were lying to her. One might deny the efficacy of all vaccines, choosing not to “poison” their children with them. Epidemics of “eradicated” diseases will not persuade them.

Some might deny that renewable energy sources are renewable or clean or even useful. Bring as much scientific/documentary evidence as you like, they will not be swayed.

[ananda]

2. That is a good question.

Over many years the level of denialism and
even complacency among the believers has
always been very disturbing and disappointing
to me.

But where we are now is much worse since
we've degressed to downright insanity over
this issue (and all other crises we are facing
due to over population and irresponsible use
of energy.)

[LastDemocratInSC]

5. The absence of a survival instinct is a troubling sign.

[Brenda]

6. Entertained, Tweeted and Drugged out of natural instincts.

Humanity slept through the alarm clock about thirty years ago.

Now, it's too late. All we can do is watch the apocalypse.

[ananda]

9. Well said. My thought exactly.

And it really is going to be apocalytic.

Sad to say.

[hatrack]

7. Who needs survival when you've got denial?

At least, that seems to be how things are operating these days.

Incidentally, the first part of the article linked here pointed out that this isn't just a deadly flood, it's destroyed the main (really, the only) road link between Nepal and China.

This is a big economic and political deal, as well as yet another warming point of failure.