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A massive Himalayan sturzstrom has left more than 600 dead and 2,500 missing in Nepal and China.

A massive rock-ice avalanche, known as a sturzstrom, triggered a catastrophic flood in the Bhotekoshi River valley on the Nepal-Tibet border. The disaster, which occurred on Wednesday, resulted in more than 600 deaths and left nearly 2,500 people missing, including many foreign nationals from India. The flood was caused by a sudden collapse of bedrock and glacier fragments from the Langtang Lirung peak, sending a massive volume of debris and water downstream. Scientists and officials from both Nepal and China have identified the source of the flood as a combination of permafrost movement and a rockslide occurring on the Chinese side of the border. While the event was exceptionally large, experts note that rapid warming is weakening the high-altitude permafrost, making these types of glacial hazards more frequent. Prime Minister Balendra Shah has deployed over 15,000 personnel to the region to lead a massive search-and-rescue operation. The International Federation of Red Cross estimates that approximately 93,000 people have been affected by the destruction.

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