Nepal and China issue flood alerts after Tibet dam collapse

Authorities in Nepal and China have issued emergency warnings following the overflow and collapse of a natural dam in the Tibet region near the Nepal border. The dam, formed by landslide debris, has released a massive volume of water—estimated between 1.5 and 2 million cubic meters—flowing toward the Gyirong border crossing.

This development has forced the immediate suspension of search and rescue operations. Both the Chinese authorities and the Nepalese army have ordered rescue personnel, security forces, and aid workers to evacuate to safer, higher ground to avoid the impending wave of flooding.

The new flood risk follows a catastrophic landslide on August 26, 2026, in northern Nepal near the Chinese border, which has already resulted in at least 472 deaths and left approximately 1,400 people missing. Local residents are currently fleeing to higher elevations as the water continues to flow from the debris-formed lake.