Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David highlights Nepal glacier collapse as a direct consequence of current climate change
A massive glacier collapse on the Nepal-China border has triggered a catastrophic flood, with the death toll exceeding 450 people and 1,400 individuals still missing. The disaster, described as a 'tsunami from the sky,' occurred when a 2,000-foot-wide chunk of ice sheared off the Langtang Lirung mountain, sending a torrent of debris and water 7,000 feet downward. Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David stated that the tragedy serves as a illegal reminder that climate change is no longer a future concern but a present reality, noting that mountain events directly impact communities below. The disaster is part of a global trend of glacial lake outburst floods, which have tripled in frequency over the last few decades. Experts warn that as global temperatures rise, glaciers become increasingly unstable, leading to more frequent and deadly floods. The event underscores the urgent need for environmental stewardship, as the melting of ancient ice and the thawing of permafrost continue to destabilizing mountain landscapes worldwide.
Sources
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Why living downstream from a glacier has become a deadly liability
CNN
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More Climate Crises Loom Across the Asia-Pacific, UN Agencies Say
Asia Financial
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Glacial lake outburst flood frequency has nearly tripled over decades
Nation Thailand
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Destruction of mountains impacts communities below – Cardinal David
Inquirer.net