A massive barrier lake formed by debris from a glacier collapse threatens to breach and cause additional flooding in the Nepal-Tibet border region, where a flash flood on Wednesday killed hundreds and left many missing.
China has issued warnings that a barrier lake formed near the Nepal-Tibet border faces a significant risk of breaching, potentially triggering a second catastrophic flood in the already devastated region. The lake was created when debris from a collapsed glacier dammed up the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers following Wednesday's deadly flash flood. According to China's state broadcaster CCTV, approximately 2.5 million cubic metres of water had accumulated at the barrier by Friday morning, with authorities projecting an additional three million cubic metres could flow into the lake between Thursday and the weekend.
China's Ministry of Water Resources confirmed that the barrier lake has already begun overflowing continuously, raising concerns about potential breach scenarios. Most Chinese emergency services have been positioned about 7 kilometres from Gyirong Port, a key Nepal-China crossing that was severely impacted by Wednesday's initial flood. The ongoing overflow has forced authorities to suspend search and rescue operations in the immediate vicinity due to the elevated threat level.
Scientists attribute the initial Wednesday flood to the partial collapse of a glacier near Langtang Lirung peak into the river system below, which created a catastrophic surge carrying massive volumes of water and debris downstream. The disaster has claimed several hundred lives in Nepal, with hundreds more still missing. On the Tibet side alone, over 550 people are reported missing, nearly half of whom are foreign nationals. Nepali authorities have independently warned of blockage risks along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, advising people to avoid these areas until conditions stabilize.
