Beijing/Kathmandu, August 28 (TNA) Chinese authorities have warned that an artificial lake formed by a massive mudslide on the China-Nepal border is at “high risk” of breaching, raising fears of another surge of floodwater downstream while rescue teams continue searching for more than 1,400 missing people.
State-run Xinhua said late Thursday that continued rainfall could add about 3 million cubic metres of water to the lake over the next three days, sharply increasing the chance of a breach. Officials warned that if the lake gives way, floodwaters could move downstream and cause fresh damage in areas including Gyirong Port and surrounding regions.
The lake, formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, was already overflowing and held an estimated 2 million cubic metres of water as of Thursday morning, according to Chinese state media.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and running flood simulations and risk assessments to prepare for a possible outburst flood. The latest warning adds another layer of danger to a disaster that has already caused heavy loss of life and widespread destruction across the Nepal-Tibet border region.