A massive landslide and possible collapse of a glacier in the Himalayas triggered the deadly floods that devastated parts of northern Nepal on Wednesday, according to a scientist cited by ABC News, while the exact cause of the landslide remains under investigation.

Geophysicist Göran Ekström of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory told ABC News that a landslide in a mountain pass swept away a large glacier or parts of one, setting off a chain reaction of ice, rock and water into the valley.

The event generated seismic energy equivalent to a magnitude 5.2 earthquake, which was detected by seismographs around the world, Ekström said. He estimated the resulting floodwaters may have reached 130-160 feet and travelled at speeds of up to 44 miles per hour.

However, the US Geological Survey's latest analysis found no evidence of an earthquake, casting doubt on an earlier suggestion by Nepal's foreign minister that an earthquake near the Tibet-Nepal border had triggered the landslide.

Scientists are now examining satellite imagery, rainfall data and evidence of possible glacial lake drainage to determine what caused the landslide. Heavy rainfall or melting ice may have destabilised the ground or glacier, triggering the chain reaction.

Ekström said climate change is accelerating glacier melt and may be increasing the frequency of such landslides in mountainous regions, although it is too early to determine its specific role in Wednesday's disaster.

The resulting deluge swept through northern Nepal, including areas popular with mountaineers and pilgrims. Footage showed mud, rocks and water destroying buildings, roads and vehicles, while a towering wave engulfed the Rasuvagadhi border checkpoint along the Trishuli River.

At least 160 people have been killed and hundreds injured in the floods, according to local authorities.