New satellite images suggest a landslide—not a glacier—triggered the deadly flood wave.

New satellite images from glaciers in Nepal and Tibet are circulating online, and they may change the understanding of what caused the devastating flood wave. “When I look at the images now, it looks more like the mountain itself gave way,” said Mats Eriksson, head of department at the Swedish Geotechnical Institute. Earlier theories focused on a glacial lake bursting. But the new visuals point to a different sequence of events: a large section of rock breaking loose from the mountainside. Eriksson’s team is now studying the terrain in detail. The images show fresh scars on the slope, which could indicate a massive rockfall that pushed water and debris downstream. The distinction matters. A landslide-driven flood behaves differently from a glacial outburst, affecting how authorities predict and prepare for future events in the region. Scientists are urging caution before drawing final conclusions. More data from the ground is needed to confirm what the images suggest. For now, the new pictures offer a critical clue—and a reminder that in high mountain environments, the ground itself can be as unstable as the ice above it.