The disaster left at least 165 people dead – 162 in Nepal and three in Tibet – and left hundreds missing. Chinese authorities reported 558 missing, including 260 foreigners, while Nepal said 468 tourists were missing, most of them foreigners.

Initially, the event was described differently: Nepal called it a flood, and Chinese officials called it a mudslide. Nepal’s foreign minister suggested an earthquake might have triggered a landslide that blocked a river, and China also reported a landslide at the border hub.

Later, scientific analysis changed the picture. The U.S. Geological Survey first reported an earthquake in Tibet north of the disaster zone, but then updated its conclusion. After studying data from nearby seismic stations, long‑period seismic waves, and satellite imagery, the USGS determined that the seismic signal came from a glacial collapse and debris flow, not from an earthquake.

This shift shows how experts combine ground‑based seismometers with space‑based images to pinpoint a disaster’s true cause. Knowing whether an event is caused by an earthquake or a glacier collapse helps rescue teams and future risk‑reduction plans.