Tibetan border lake collapse risk threatens Himalayan region

Authorities in China and Nepal have issued warnings regarding a high risk of a lake collapse in the Gyirong border region of Tibet. The lake was formed following a massive landslide on August 26, where a large mass of mud, rocks, and debris struck the border area between China and Nepal.

Approximately 1,500 people remain missing, including hundreds of pilgrims traveling to Mount Kailash. In response to the rising water levels, over 1,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated from the affected zone. Experts estimate that up to 3 million cubic meters of water could enter the basin over the next few days due to persistent rainfall, with water levels expected to peak around September 1.

The disaster has caused significant infrastructure damage, affecting six hydroelectric plants and commercial structures in the Port of Gyirong. The landslide may have been triggered by an ice and rock avalanche on Nepal’s Langtang Lirung peak, which sent debris into the Lhende Khola river on the Tibetan side. The event has also altered riverbeds more than 100 kilometers away, near the Indian border.