Why Young Himalayas Remain So Prone to Disasters

The Himalayas are still young mountains, so their rocks and slopes are not fully stable.

Two huge pieces of Earth are pushing against each other there, making the mountains rise.

Rivers and landslides are cutting into the mountains at the same time.

This creates very steep slopes that can collapse.

Heavy monsoon rain can make the ground soggy, while earthquakes can shake it apart.

As glaciers melt, they can leave lakes held back by piles of loose rocks and dirt.

If those natural dams break, powerful floods called GLOFs can rush downhill.

Climate change may bring more extreme rainfall and make some dangers worse.

A geologist also says poorly planned roads and dams can turn natural hazards into larger disasters.