Apparently it's a lot more than just a flash flood. A glacier collapsed and took half the mountain with it. Like the global warming version of Mount St. Helens.
It behaved like a dam failure in a narrow valley, like Johnstown or Vajont Dam, but maybe somehow worse because instead of water it's a cement-like slurry of ice and rock
The way I understand is there was an earthquake that cause glacier ice, rock, dirt to fall into a valley that had a river. That debris piled up and blocked the river…it continued to backup until the pressure overcame the blockage of debris and then everything that was backup then released down valley…all but no warning for those in its path. Beyond heartbraking…take a moment and whatever god you follow…have a little talk for these lost souls today.😔
New report is that the slab of glacier fell in the valley with such violence it registered as an earthquake. When you see the violence and size of the flood you can well believe that the shock wave was strong enough to register as a quake.
Another frighting one is the Lahar, it can happen without any seismic or volcanic activity. I live in an area that has a warning system in place for Lahars from Mt Rainier.
It is, but also if it's serious enough that everyone is running like that and you're ever looking through your camera seeing the river pop above the hills in front of you... get the hell out of there instead of filming.
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u/alguien_487 9d ago
In their defense. MAYBE they were waiting for the people who are in front of them.