In late August 2026, high in the mountains between Nepal and China, a piece of glacier broke loose and crashed down a steep valley. Within minutes, a surge of water, mud, and rock tore through towns in its path, killing more than a thousand people and leaving thousands more missing.
This is not an isolated event. It is part of a pattern building across the Himalayas, where rising temperatures are melting glaciers faster than scientists expected even a decade ago. This intense melting creates severe flooding risks for communities living in the valleys below.
This gallery looks at the recent flood, what caused it, and why a warming world is putting this fragile region at growing risk. Click on to learn more.