After a deadly flash flood last Wednesday—which scientists say was triggered by a glacier collapsing into the river—rescuers in the Nepal‑Tibet border region are sounding the alarm over a newly formed barrier lake that could breach its walls and unleash a second flood.
The lake was created when a massive landslide blocked the river, forming an artificial dam that has since filled with meltwater and rain. Chinese officials have issued a warning that the lake is at high risk of overflowing, which would send a flood wave downriver into populated valleys and far‑flung communities.
"We are closely monitoring the situation," a spokesperson for the local emergency management agency said in a statement. "The integrity of the dam remains uncertain and could fail under sustained pressure," they added.
Scientists are studying the glacier’s mass balance and its potential to resume a similar collapse, which could cause the lake’s level to rise even more rapidly. Emergency teams have already set up observation posts along the lake’s edge, ready to deploy if the barrier shows signs of cracking or erosion.
For more on the recent disaster and ongoing relief efforts, the BBC reports that the region remains under close watch, with authorities urging local residents to evacuate any low‑lying areas as a precaution.
