Satellite images show bedrock and glacier collapsed on Nepal-China border, then rivers flooded
As rescue teams searched for missing people following catastrophic flooding along the Nepal-China border, Earth scientists reviewed satellite imagery for clues to the cause and assessed the devastation.
Bengaluru, India - As rescue workers struggled through mud and debris following a devastating flash flood along the Himalayan border separating Nepal and China, authorities issued a warning that a newly formed, overflowing lake could lead to additional flooding, according to the Associated Press. Nepal's authorities instructed all security personnel, rescue teams, and civilians involved in relief efforts to remain vigilant and swiftly relocate to safe areas if required.
Abi Narayan Kafle, a spokesperson for the Nepal police, confirmed to AP that the rescue operation persisted, but authorities maintained a heightened state of alertness. The potential source of further flooding is the newly formed lake, which satellite images from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reportedly showed to be in the same vicinity as the glacial detachment event on Wednesday that caused the chain of events culminating in the catastrophic damage downstream.
Nepal's disaster management agency stated that satellite imagery and initial assessments revealed that the river had been obstructed upstream, resulting in the formation of a steadily expanding lake that could rupture and produce a swift downstream flood. CCTV reported on Friday that the lake's impoundment lay more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) away from Gyirong Port, the border crossing with Nepal that was inundated with mud and floodwater.
The broadcaster added that the lake sat at an elevation of 2,950 meters (9,680 feet), approximately 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) higher than Gyirong Port.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
