The glacier piece fell about 1,200 metres onto the valley floor below, gathering rock and sediment as it fell and resulting in an ice-rock avalanche which struck the Lhende River in Tibet, about 12 miles away from the Nepal-China border crossing.
Debris caused a temporary blockage, creating a dam, which then gave way, releasing a massive, destructive flood along the Trishuli River in Nepal. This caused water levels to rise by up to nine metres in just 30 minutes.
Families on both sides of the border, as well as in a number of foreign countries, including the UK, are still anxiously awaiting news of missing loved ones.
The death toll is expected to rise as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer. The widespread destruction of road networks, bridges and communication lines is making access to the affected areas very difficult. Warnings of secondary flash floods in the coming days are also in place.
Tearfund is currently coordinating its response and has been in initial rapid assessment and coordination meetings with the government and our local partners in Nepal, looking at the most effective ways to help provide immediate relief to people affected.
Three of our local partners are already in the affected area to assess what the greatest needs are and how we can respond.
Current estimates suggest that around 10,000 households have been directly affected and will need some form of assistance.
Please join us in prayer for the region, and if you would like to give to help Tearfund respond, please do so here.
*Update as at 28 August, 540 people are confirmed to have died and 1,500 are still reported missing.*
