Authorities are increasingly concerned about a second flood after a glacial collapse and landslide on the border between Tibet and Nepal on August 26 created a lake that has begun to overflow. Both countries have suspended rescue operations and instructed rescue teams and residents to evacuate to higher ground.
Nepal Police reported on social media on August 28 that a dam holding back water from the Tibetan side had collapsed, warning security personnel, rescue workers, and residents to move to safety immediately.
The Nepalese military announced a 90-minute halt to helicopter rescue operations in the flood-affected Rasuwagadhi area. Reuters reported that residents were seen urgently evacuating to higher ground to escape rising water levels.
Narendra Pariyar, the chief administrative officer of the Rasuwagadhi area, confirmed that the lake has overflowed its banks, stating, "We can see the water level rising." The risk of additional flooding has increased as the lake formed by debris from the glacial collapse in Tibet has begun to overflow.
Earlier, China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the risk of a natural dam collapse, along with landslides and avalanches, has prompted the withdrawal of Chinese rescue personnel and vehicles from the area.
The lake's current volume has surpassed 2.5 million cubic meters, significantly higher than the previous estimate of 1.5 to 2 million cubic meters made by a Chinese technical team the day before. This team, consisting of eight members, conducted aerial surveys and 3D modeling to assess the lake and the natural dam's condition, finding the lake to be approximately 150 meters long and 40 to 50 meters deep.
Chen Hanxiao, a member of the technical team, told CCTV, "After the glacial collapse formed the lake, many isolated cliffs and steep slopes appeared along the lakeshore, making access to the site difficult."
Additional rainfall is also exacerbating the situation. Recent rains near the Jirong border checkpoint have destabilized soil and rock in upstream areas, with forecasts indicating that rain will continue for the next week.
Over the next three days, approximately 3 million cubic meters of water is expected to flow into the lake, enough to fill about 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, with the inflow projected to peak around September 1.
On August 26, a massive landslide and flooding occurred along the Nepal-China border. As of the morning of August 28, the death toll in Nepal had reached 469, with 977 people reported missing. In Tibet, three deaths and 558 missing persons have been confirmed, bringing the total fatalities to 472 and the missing to over 1,500. Nepalese authorities have rescued 1,545 individuals so far, but rescue efforts are hampered by the loss of several bridges and approximately 40 kilometers of road.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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