Nepal braces for fresh floods as Tibet barrier lake breaches

Nepal is on high alert for further devastation as a barrier lake in Tibet has reportedly breached, raising fears of new floods. The breach occurred Friday near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers, which merge before crossing into Nepal as the Bhotekoshi.

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Information has been received that the water dam on the Tibet side has burst again. Therefore, all security personnel, rescue workers involved in rescue and relief operations, and the general public are requested to remain immediately alert and move to safe locations or notify others.

Authorities in Nepal's Rasuwa district were informed by the Nepali Army about the lake's breach. This prompted immediate evacuations in the Trishuli area, where residents were urged to move to safety. Nepal Police issued an alert on X, stating, "Information has been received that the water dam on the Tibet side has burst again. Therefore, all security personnel, rescue workers involved in rescue and relief operations, and the general public are requested to remain immediately alert and move to safe locations or notify others."

This development comes as Nepal is still grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic floods that occurred on Wednesday. Rescue operations have recovered 475 bodies, and 667 tourists and travelers, including 127 Nepali residents, remain missing. All rebuilding efforts and relief work in the affected region have been halted as a precautionary measure against the potential rise in water levels.

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Information has come that the lake on the Chinese side has breached. So, preparations are underway to send helicopters stationed in Dhunche and Rasuwa for reconnaissance.

China's Ministry of Water Resources had previously warned of the high risk of the lake breaching, estimating its volume at about 2 million cubic meters as of Thursday morning. An additional 3 million cubic meters of water was expected to flow into the lake over the following three days, according to the Global Times. Helicopters stationed in the Rasuwa district are being prepared for reconnaissance flights to assess the situation.

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The water level is about to rise, so everyone is being stopped. The vehicles that were engaged in the operation are all returning. They are all coming back. Everyone is being evacuated from there and is being taken to a safe location. All the work has stopped. Even worse flooding is yet to come; that is why everyone is being put on alert.