Nepal, China warn of fresh flood risks with lakes threatening to burst

TRISHULI, Nepal - Nepal and China have issued warnings of potential flooding in the Himalayas due to two lakes that have formed on either side of their border. These lakes, created after Wednesday's catastrophic flood, could burst and cause further damage in regions still recovering from the tragedy. Over 1,000 people remain missing after the initial flood, which killed at least 362 individuals.

The Nepalese disaster authority has issued a notice, urging residents and rescuers to exercise caution and stay away from riverbanks and risky areas. Meanwhile, China has warned that 3 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to about 1,200 Olympic swimming pools, is expected to flow into a dammed lake on its side of the border over the next three days.

This could lead to a high risk of lake breach, with peak flow anticipated around September 1. A Chinese rescue team captured aerial footage of the accumulating brown water, which has submerged bushes and trees and is pushing against debris and stones. The volume of water continues to increase, raising the risk further. Rainfall forecast for the coming week will exacerbate the threat. Rescue workers in Nepal have begun moving towards higher ground following the warnings.