El Ciudadano
Original article: Un riesgo ya identificado en la cordillera chilena: WWF llama a prevenir el riesgo de inundaciones glaciares tras tragedia en Nepal
The devastating floods that struck northern Nepal, near the Tibetan border, have claimed at least 160 lives and left hundreds missing, raising urgent concerns at the national level, particularly regarding the mountainous regions, according to WWF Chile.
The NGO emphasized that «while Chile does not currently face a comparable level of threat, the underlying issue of rapidly receding glaciers due to climate change, leading to increasingly large and unstable glacial lakes, has also been identified in Chile, even in the central region. Therefore, enhanced monitoring and prevention efforts are required.»
Initially, the Nepalese government attributed the disaster to a 4.4 magnitude earthquake that reportedly triggered a landslide, releasing water from a glacial lake. However, international scientists have suggested that what was recorded as an earthquake may actually have been an ice avalanche.
As of now, there is no consensus on the exact cause; «although this area experienced a similar incident in 2025 confirmed as a GLOF, which stands for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood,» noted WWF Chile.
«We still do not know for certain what triggered this tragedy, but we understand that the devastated area is among those on the planet with the most receding glaciers, which multiplies risk scenarios—from ice avalanches and earthquakes destabilizing unstable slopes to the bursting of glacial lakes,» explained Uri Colodro, global leader of WWF Cities and coordinator of Climate Change and Cities for the organization.
«Regardless of the exact cause, we know that climate change is a significant factor in these types of disasters, contributing not only to their origin but also increasing their intensity and destructive power,» emphasized Colodro.
Identified Risks in the Chilean Mountains
WWF pointed out that the events in Nepal are not exclusive to Asia.
«Various studies from national universities indicate that, for instance, the Echaurren Norte glacier in the Metropolitan Region has lost 65% of its surface area since 1955 (University of Chile), while the Universidad glacier lost a volume of water equivalent to the annual consumption of a city with 580,000 inhabitants in just one year (University of O’Higgins),» detailed the NGO.
Similarly, other assessments, such as the Regional Hydroclimatic Program for the Andes, show that there are glaciers highly susceptible to GLOF events in the central region: «As glaciers melt faster, they form lakes contained by ice barriers or moraines that can collapse during earthquakes, avalanches, or heavy rainfall, the same mechanisms in question in Nepal.»
And while Chile «has not recorded a GLOF with victims, primarily due to remote locations, this could change with the expansion of various activities, such as mountain tourism, development projects, and infrastructure, bringing human settlements closer to these areas,» WWF highlighted.
«What we witnessed in Nepal reflects a risk already identified in Chile’s mountains. As the risk grows with climate change, the exposure of people also increases. Urgent action to implement concrete adaptation measures is needed today,» added Uri Colodro.
For WWF Chile, this incident adds to a trend the country is already experiencing. The El Niño Phenomenon has recently hit the central-southern region hard, within the context of prolonged drought, multiple years of massive wildfires, and heatwaves.
Thus, the organization insists on reinforcing adaptation efforts, as current realities show that less than one-third of Chilean municipalities have Climate Change Action Plans (PACCC).
«Solutions exist, but they require investment and political will: early warning systems, glacier monitoring, watershed restoration, wetland protection, and other Nature-Based Solutions, as well as territorial planning to prevent human settlements from encroaching further into risk zones, are steps Chile can take now, before we must continue mourning the increasing impacts of the climate crisis in a highly vulnerable country,» concluded Colodro.
We will continue to provide updates.
Featured image: Rescuers use an excavator to safely transport a flood victim along the Trishuli River in Nuwakot District, Nepal. Credits: @Niranjan Shrestha
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