China Races to Prevent New Floods as Barrier Lakes Threaten Nepal-Tibet Border

China Dispatches Engineers to Monitor Barrier Lake

Chinese authorities have wasted no time in assessing the stability of the new lake that has formed in the Gyirong border area in Tibet.

Initial surveys estimated the lake to be approximately 150 meters long and 40 to 50 meters deep, and to contain between 1.5 and 2 million cubic meters of water. Engineers continue to collect data on the lake bottom, water levels and surrounding terrain.

The rugged, mountainous terrain further complicates the response effort. The lake is surrounded by steep, unstable cliffs formed by glacier collapse and debris flows, making it difficult to bring in heavy machinery.

Engineers are considering digging a drainage ditch at a low point in the natural dam. The dimensions of this drainage channel must be carefully calculated based on the rate at which water enters and leaves the lake.

It becomes far more dangerous when it rains. Chinese officials said a further 3 million cubic meters of water could enter the lake over the next three days, with the greatest risk of a breach likely around September 1.

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Hundreds Dead in Massive Himalayan Flood

The new threat comes after a devastating flash flood in parts of Nepal and Tibet, when a chunk of ice and rock smashed into a mountain river.

The disaster destroyed homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure. One of the main routes between Nepal and Tibet, the Gyirong border area, was badly hit.

The confirmed death toll in Nepal has soared to 469, police figures said Friday, with hundreds still missing. Earlier reports had placed the number of missing across Nepal and Tibet at over 1,400.

Many of the missing are foreigners, among them trekkers, pilgrims and other visitors to the Himalayan region. Reuters said nearly 1,000 people were still missing on both sides of the border, including up to 540 foreigners from 31 countries.

Rescue teams have so far pulled hundreds of people from the rubble, while others have been taken to hospitals in Kathmandu for treatment.

Rescue Effort Complicated by New Flood Threat

The new barrier lakes have brought a second, dangerous stage to the disaster.

If any of the natural debris dams should fail, a vast volume of water might rush downstream through valleys already devastated by the first flood.

This would endanger survivors, rescue workers and communities still struggling in the wake of the initial devastation.

Nepal and Chinese officials monitoring water levels and weather patterns have warned people in vulnerable areas to stay alert. Further rain could loosen the surrounding rock and soil and make the natural dams less stable.

It's a difficult balancing act for emergency teams to keep a rescue going while protecting their staff from another flood.

First Disaster Caused by Glacier Collapse

The first inundation was due to the fall of a block of ice and rock in the Himalayan region.

The avalanche and debris flow resulted in a mountain river releasing large volumes of water and sediment downstream. A review of satellite images by Reuters found mountainsides covered in mud and debris where green once grew.

Scientists have suggested a number of possible reasons for the collapse including recent high temperatures and the rapid melting of snow and ice.

Climate change is also increasing instability in high-mountain environments, experts have warned. Nepal has lost nearly a third of its glacier ice in about 30 years, according to data cited by Reuters.

But scientists warn against automatically blaming climate change as the immediate cause for this particular collapse. Conversely, increased temperatures can lead to melting, alter freeze-thaw cycles and undermine rock and ice structures, potentially raising the likelihood of hazards occurring in cascade.

Nepal and China Race Against Time as Climate Risks Grow

The first priority of both governments is to prevent another flood. They will continue to search for the missing.

China's engineering team is collecting data to see if controlled drainage is possible. The operation is particularly difficult because of heavy rains and difficult terrain.

Nepal is also monitoring water levels and advising people to stay away from dangerous places along the river. An abrupt outburst from a barrier lake could send water and debris cascading through already damaged valleys, possibly aggravating the humanitarian crisis.

And the threat also shows the need for cooperation across borders in the Himalayas, where river and mountain systems cross national lines.

The tragedy has raised fresh concerns over the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to glacier-related hazards. Glaciers can move quickly, slopes can become unstable, it can rain a lot and people build in mountain valleys – all of which can cause sudden and destructive floods. The present crisis shows how one geological event can trigger a chain of hazards: collapse of a glacier, debris flow, damming of a river, formation of a barrier lake, and possibly another flood. The immediate challenge for Nepal and China is to ensure that chain does not lead to another disaster. Engineers worked to reduce the risk of a second catastrophic flood but authorities remained on high alert as barrier lakes continued to fill and more rain was expected.