Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Nepal Faces Second Flood Threat From Tibetan Barrier Lake
A large pile of ice, rocks and dirt blocked two rivers near Nepal and Tibet.
Water collected behind this blockage and formed a temporary lake.
Scientists usually call this a landslide dam or landslide lake.
If the blockage breaks, a huge amount of water could rush downstream very quickly.
The flood could carry mud and rocks and cause more landslides.
Nepal had already suffered a deadly flood, so officials are worried about another one.
Nepal Police told rescuers and other people to move away from dangerous areas.
China sent engineers to study the lake and consider making a channel to drain it safely.
Reports said the lake may already have breached, but the situation remained a serious threat.
A debris blockage formed on the Tibetan side after a likely glacier collapse triggered Nepal’s deadly flooding.
The resulting barrier lake, or landslide dam, contained an estimated 1.5–2 million cubic metres of water.
Officials warned that a breach could release millions of cubic metres downstream, causing severe flooding and landslides.
Nepal Police urged rescue workers and the public to move to safety; reports said rescue operations were suspended near the border.
China deployed an eight-member engineering team to survey the lake and assess whether a drainage channel could reduce the risk.
- Who
- Nepalese communities and rescue personnel are at risk, while Chinese engineers and Nepalese authorities are monitoring the lake.
- What
- A temporary barrier lake formed by ice-and-rock debris may have breached, creating a possible second flood threat.
- When
- The threat emerged after Wednesday’s deadly flooding, with further warnings and surveys reported on Friday.
- Where
- On the Tibetan side near the Nepal-Tibet border, at the confluence of the Chhochen and Purepu Tsangpo rivers.
- Why
- A likely glacier collapse caused an ice-and-rock blockage that trapped water, and continued inflow raised the risk of an uncontrolled release.
- Estimated lake volume
- About 1.5–2 million cubic metres of water
- Reported lake dimensions
- Approximately 150 metres long and 40–50 metres deep
- Additional expected inflow
- About 3 million cubic metres over three days, according to China Central Television
- Main hazard
- A landslide lake outburst flood carrying water and debris downstream
- China’s response
- An eight-member engineering team conducted aerial surveys and 3D modelling
- Possible mitigation
- Engineers said a drainage channel could be excavated through a lower point of the dam
- Current uncertainty
- Nepal Police reported that a water barrier had breached, but the report did not definitively confirm whether it was the same lake