28 August,2026 09:02 AM IST | Beijing | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/AFP
China has issued a Level-IV emergency alert following devastating flash floods near the Tibet-Nepal border, warning that a newly formed barrier lake at the confluence of two rivers faces a significant risk of breaching and triggering further flooding in downstream areas.
China's Ministry of Water Resources issued the alert for the Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday night, citing concerns over the barrier lake that formed near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers.
The two rivers originate in Tibet and flow into Nepal as part of the Bhote Koshi river system. Chinese authorities fear that a breach of the blockage could trigger another major disaster downstream, potentially affecting border areas and settlements in Nepal.
The newly formed lake had accumulated an estimated two million cubic metres of water as of Thursday morning, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Continued rainfall is expected to increase the pressure on the natural barrier. According to forecasts, inflows into the lake could add about three million cubic metres of water over the next three days.
The additional inflow could substantially increase the risk of the barrier breaching and releasing large volumes of water downstream.
Chinese authorities said such an event could cause further damage in areas including Gyirong Port near the China-Nepal border and other locations downstream.
China's Ministry of Water Resources has directed local authorities to closely monitor the barrier lake, rainfall and water inflows.
Officials have also been instructed to strengthen forecasting and risk assessments and identify people living in potentially affected downstream areas.
China's natural disaster emergency response system has four levels, with Level-I being the highest level and Level-IV the lowest. Despite being the lowest formal emergency response level, the alert reflects official concern over the potential consequences of a breach as water continues to accumulate behind the blockage.
China has deployed satellite and drone resources to support rescue and disaster assessment operations in the flood-hit region near the Nepal border.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said it had mobilised satellite resources to conduct emergency imaging of the affected areas and retrieve historical imagery for comparison.
So far, five images from before the disaster and 10 images taken after the floods have been provided to emergency response and disaster relief departments to assist with damage assessment and mitigation.
China has also deployed its Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicle, equipped with high-definition cameras, for reconnaissance across the affected region.
Rescue personnel are also using smaller unmanned aerial vehicles to support search operations in areas affected by flooding, debris and mud.
The high-definition camera footage is being used to create three-dimensional models of the disaster-hit terrain. The data is intended to help rescue command centres assess the overall situation and identify priority areas for search operations.
Thermal imaging equipment mounted on drones is also being used to detect human heat-source signals, particularly in vegetated areas and zones covered by mud and debris, according to the Xinhua report.
Drone footage showed that the water level of the barrier lake had risen compared with Wednesday night. Firefighters have also been using drones to mark points around the lake's perimeter and calculate its surface area.
According to Chinese authorities, 558 people, including foreign tourists, went missing after flash floods struck Gyirong Port in Gyirong County near the Tibet-Nepal border on August 26.
Rescue operations have been complicated by the formation of the barrier lake, which authorities believe could trigger a major secondary disaster if it breaches.
An eight-member advance team from China Anneng, a state-owned engineering and rescue enterprise, arrived in Gyirong County on Thursday with communications and detection equipment to collect key information and support efforts to address the upstream blockage.
Rescue personnel said the accumulated debris located around three kilometres upstream of the port could only be cleared safely after the threat posed by the barrier lake had been addressed.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the disaster-hit region on Thursday along with senior officials from relevant departments to assess the damage and review ongoing rescue and relief operations.
The officials are expected to supervise the response and meet people affected by the disaster.
A directing group from the People's Liberation Army Western Theatre Command, which is responsible for military operations in the Tibet region, was also dispatched to coordinate joint rescue efforts involving military personnel in Gyirong County.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the barrier lake as rainfall persists, with efforts focused on reducing the risk of a breach while search and rescue operations continue in the flood-ravaged border region.
(With inputs from PTI)
