Nepal issued a fresh alert on Friday after receiving information that a water dam burst again on the Tibetan side, prompting authorities to ask security personnel, rescue workers and others involved in relief operations to move to safer locations.
The warning came as rescue teams were already dealing with the aftermath of Wednesday’s catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-China border. The disaster killed 469 people and left more than 1,500 missing in Nepal and Tibet.
Nepal Army sends team to Bhotekoshi
Authorities urged those involved in rescue and relief work to remain on high alert amid fears of another sudden rise in water levels downstream.
The Nepal Army also sent a team to the border area to inspect the Bhotekoshi River and assess the situation, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The latest warning adds to concerns for thousands of security personnel and rescue workers operating across the flood-hit region.
Flood devastation hampers rescue efforts
The initial disaster sent a torrent of water, mud, rocks and debris through settlements in Nepal’s Rasuwa district before the floodwaters moved downstream through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems.
Homes, bridges, vehicles, roads and other infrastructure were swept away or buried under debris.
Rescuers continued searching on Friday for people still missing. The Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 3,253 people had been airlifted from the affected areas.
Destroyed roads and bridges have made access to several locations difficult, further complicating the search.
Rising lake had already raised concerns
The latest dam breach report follows earlier warnings from Nepali and Chinese authorities about a newly formed lake upstream.
China’s Ministry of Water Resources said the lake held around 2 million cubic metres of water and could receive another 3 million cubic metres over the following three days, AP reported.
CCTV said the lake’s barrier was more than 10 kilometre from Gyirong Port, a Nepal-China border crossing that was engulfed by mud and floodwater during Wednesday’s disaster.
Rescue operations face fresh challenge
Nepali Army personnel were also deployed to the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project after reports that people could be trapped inside a tunnel.
Mud had covered the tunnel’s entry and exit points, making them difficult to identify.
With the fresh warning, teams working near river channels may now have to balance the search for survivors with the risk of another surge. Thousands of families continue to await information about missing relatives.