China Warns Nepal Temporary Lake Could Burst Amid Deadly Floods

China has issued a fresh warning to Nepal over a temporary lake formed in the upper reaches of the Lhende river system, cautioning that the lake could breach its natural barrier at any time and potentially send more water downstream.

The warning comes as Nepal continues to deal with the devastating flash floods that swept through parts of Nepal and Tibet earlier this week, killing hundreds of people and leaving many others missing.

Chinese authorities said the colour of the newly formed lake has been steadily becoming darker, which they believe could indicate an increased risk of a breach.

CHINA WARNS LAKE COULD BURST

In a message shared with Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese authorities said the lake began forming after the deadly flash flood and that its water had been changing colour.

“The colour of the lake that began forming the day before yesterday is continuously becoming darker. This means that it could burst,” the message said.

However, Beijing also sought to assess the potential impact of such an event. Chinese authorities said the lake currently does not contain enough water to cause a major rise in downstream river levels even if part of the natural barrier collapses.

According to China's assessment, the maximum flow could reach about 500 cubic metres per second.

Chinese authorities advised communities downstream to remain cautious while continuing to monitor the situation.

HOW THE TEMPORARY LAKE FORMED

The lake was created after a glacial collapse triggered a massive flash flood across parts of the Himalayan region.

The resulting debris formed a natural dam, trapping water and creating a temporary lake near the confluence of the Chochen river on the Chinese side and the Purepu river on the Nepali side.

China's Ministry of Water Resources said the water level in the lake was gradually increasing.

By Friday, around 2.5 million cubic metres of water had accumulated in the lake.

Chinese authorities had earlier estimated that another 3 million cubic metres of water could enter the lake over the following three days, increasing concerns about pressure on the temporary natural dam.

CHINA USES DRONES AND SATELLITES

Beijing has been closely monitoring the temporary lake and surrounding river system using drones and satellite observations.

China has also carried out flood modelling to estimate what could happen if the natural dam partially collapses.

The modelling suggested that a breach could produce a maximum flow of about 500 cubic metres per second.

The Chinese message said that even in such a scenario, the water would remain within the existing river channels.

On Friday, water from the temporary lake began flowing into the Lhende Khola and Trishuli river systems. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV later reported that the situation was considered manageable by midday.

Despite that assessment, authorities in Nepal have remained on alert because even a limited breach could create additional flooding while rescue and relief operations are already underway.

NEPAL FACES MASSIVE FLOOD DISASTER

The warning comes as Nepal continues to recover from Wednesday's catastrophic flash flood.

At least 587 people had been reported dead in Nepal, while many others remained missing. The disaster also affected Tibet, where at least seven deaths had been confirmed.

The floods caused widespread destruction, including damaged homes, roads and bridges, while rescue teams continued searching for survivors and missing people.

The possibility of another surge from the temporary lake has added a new challenge for authorities already dealing with the aftermath of the initial disaster.

For communities located along downstream rivers, officials are now closely watching changes in water levels and the condition of the natural dam.

While China's modelling suggests a potential breach may not result in a major downstream surge, authorities continue to advise caution as the temporary lake evolves.