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Catastrophic Flood Exposes the Risks of Nepal’s Hydropower Bet

29 August 2026 at 12:23
The loss of power-generating capacity has raised questions about an ambitious expansion of renewable energy in one of the world’s most hazard-prone mountain regions.

© Atul Loke for The New York Times

A catastrophic deluge of ice and debris knocked out over 12 percent of Nepal’s hydropower capacity within minutes, striking a heavy blow to the nation’s economic engine.

Disaster Experts Say Nepal Glacier Collapse Was Difficult to Predict

28 August 2026 at 14:27
Given the challenges in forecasting and detecting such calamities, researchers advised banning construction on floodplains and marking out clear evacuation routes.

© Atul Loke for The New York Times

The widened channel of the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal on Thursday after the flash flooding. Most monitoring and early-warning systems for glacial hazards focus on a specific area of risk.

Disaster Experts Say Nepal Glacier Collapse Was Difficult to Predict

28 August 2026 at 14:27
Given the challenges in forecasting and detecting such calamities, researchers advised banning construction on floodplains and marking out clear evacuation routes.

© Atul Loke for The New York Times

The widened channel of the Bhote Koshi River in Nepal on Thursday after the flash flooding. Most monitoring and early-warning systems for glacial hazards focus on a specific area of risk.

Climate Change Raises Risk of Disasters Like Nepal Floods

Glaciers and permafrost in the Himalayas are melting faster as temperatures rise, though scientists are still studying the exact causes of this week’s landslide.

© Atul Loke for The New York Times

Mud-laden water and debris surges through the widened channel of the Bhotekoshi River in the northern Rasuwa district of Nepal, on Thursday.
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