China Issues Urgent Flood Warning for Nepal Border
China's Ministry of Water Resources has sounded an alarm regarding a newly formed barrier lake near the Nepal-China border, warning that it could breach and trigger another major flood within the next three days. This comes just a day after a flash flood caused significant devastation in Nepal's Rasuwa district.
Details of the New Barrier Lake Threat
The ministry reported that the barrier lake has formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers in Nepal. As of Thursday morning, its water volume was estimated at 2 million cubic meters and was already overflowing. China Central Television further reported that an additional 3 million cubic meters of water could flow into the lake over the coming three days, significantly escalating the risk of a breach.
Such barrier lakes, often formed by landslides blocking river flows, can create immense pressure. A sudden breach can release a catastrophic surge of water, sediment, and debris downstream, posing an extreme danger to communities and infrastructure.
Nepal's Authority Confirms Risk and Urges Vigilance
Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has echoed the warning, confirming a major flood risk. The authority stated that the Lhende River has been obstructed approximately 18 kilometers above the Rasuwagadhi border, leading to the formation of a lake covering about 0.11 square kilometers.
"As there remains a risk of another major flood, all concerned parties in the lower coastal areas are urged to exercise necessary caution and remain highly vigilant," the NDRRMA cautioned, urging immediate precautionary measures.
Previous Flood's Devastation and Causes
The current warning follows a similar chain of events that led to Wednesday's deadly flooding in Nepal's Rasuwa district. Initial analyses, including satellite images from Planet Labs, indicated that a snow-rock landslide near the Nepal-China border caused a glacier-inclusive flood in the Lhende River. This landslide occurred approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
Further analysis by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) suggested that an "ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-altitude area" sent a large volume of ice and rock debris into the Lende Khola, a tributary of the Bhote Koshi. This debris triggered a sudden surge, causing river levels downstream to rise by seven to nine meters within just 30 minutes, washing away or damaging several monitoring stations.
Authorities on both sides of the border are closely monitoring the situation, advising residents in vulnerable downstream areas to prepare for potential evacuation.