Andes glacier melt raises flood fears in Argentina, Chile, and Peru

Climate change-induced glacial melting in the Himalayas, which caused landslides and floods in Nepal, has raised concerns that South American countries bordering the Andes could face similar natural disasters. Argentina experienced a glacial lake outburst 20 years ago that caused major damage, while Chile has 58 of 528 at-risk lakes classified as "high risk." Scientists warn that warming has made Andes glaciers unstable, creating rapidly forming lakes and loose rock prone to collapse, with monitoring and early warning systems potentially insufficient against fast, large-scale floods. Argentina, Chile, and Peru have many residents living near the Andes, placing them in direct danger zones. Peru's Ancash region, home to 1.2 million people, sits entirely within the impact area of glacial melt, according to the UPI report.