Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called for urgent international action on climate change after devastating flooding in the Himalayan region last week. Shah said the flooding of the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa was not an ordinary flood, but a major natural disaster linked to the collapse of massive snow and ice layers in the Himalayas.

A glacier collapse near the China-Nepal border sent a huge flow of icy water and debris downstream, killing at least 939 people and leaving about 4,500 missing. Kathmandu said reconstruction following the disaster could cost several billion dollars. The precise cause of the glacier collapse remains unclear, though scientists say glaciers are melting faster as global temperatures rise.

Shah said Nepal should raise its climate-related concerns more forcefully internationally, noting that the country contributes little to global warming but faces significant harm from its effects. UN climate chief Simon Stiell described the disaster as a stark reminder of the fragility of mountain environments. Nepal’s limited resources have already placed its economy under pressure as it responds to the disaster.