A dangerous barrier lake has formed in Nepal following devastating flash floods, raising concerns about a potential second catastrophe. Rock, mud, and debris carried down the mountains by Wednesday's deluge may have created a natural dam at the confluence of the Tsogyal and Purupqiangzangbu rivers, which experts fear is at risk of breaching.
The Chinese Ministry of Water Resources reported that the landslide dam presents a "high risk of breaching." Experts with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development are echoing these concerns, warning that this blockage, and others in the region's extensive river systems, could trigger another disaster.
The barrier lake is already overflowing and is estimated to contain approximately 2 million cubic meters of water. An additional 3 million cubic meters are expected to flow into the lake within the next 72 hours. The ministry is actively monitoring the situation.
Nepali officials described the initial flash flood as causing "devastation beyond imagination." Geologists believe the flooding was initiated by the collapse of an upstream glacier, creating a massive, fast-moving surge described by Bishal Nath Upreti, a geologist at Trihuvan University in Kathmandu, as a "tsunami from the sky." He characterized the event as one of Nepal's largest disasters.
The initial flooding resulted in over 350 deaths, with more than 1,300 people still missing, including individuals from Nepal, China-controlled Tibet, and tourists from around the world. According to Nepal's tourism board, 54 Americans were confirmed dead, and at least 65 remain unaccounted for.