Nepal’s Hidden Threat: Hundreds of Glacial Lakes Could Unleash Devastating Floods

The full scale of Nepal’s disaster is still unknown. Entire communities remain cut off, tens of thousands of people are affected, and official assessments have only just begun. But one thing is already clear: this cannot be treated as a short-term emergency alone. What happens to these communities in the coming years depends on what we do now, says David Fisher, Head of Delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross in Nepal. Emergency relief must go hand-in-hand with long-term planning, funding, and action. That includes rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods. If that work is delayed until global attention shifts elsewhere, many people may never fully recover. Fisher warns that the speed and destructive force of this extreme event could become more common. The region is home to hundreds of high-altitude lakes that are prone to releasing enormous volumes of water without warning.