UK's national polar research institute
Forecasters have confirmed a very strong El Niño that has pushed Pacific sea-surface temperatures well beyond historical thresholds and is already altering global weather. The Met Office says the event is unprecedented in modern records; governments in Central and South America have declared alerts as droughts and extreme heat are damaging crops and water supplies now and into 2027.
Satellite and seismic data indicate a glacier detachment caused a rapid debris flow in the Nepal-Tibet border region, killing hundreds and displacing thousands. Early analyses link the event to a massive ice-rock avalanche that transformed into a deadly flood, with climate warming intensifying future hazards in the region.
A section of glacier near Langtang Lirung has collapsed and has sent a fast-moving surge of ice, rock and water through valleys of Tibet and northern Nepal. Rescue teams from Nepal, China and international partners have been searching for survivors; officials have reported hundreds dead and thousands missing while authorities warn of further flood risk from newly formed lakes.