Flood risk rises again on the Tibet-Nepal border, China issues Level-4 alert

Kathmandu/Tibet, 28 August 2026: After a catastrophic flood on the Nepal‑China border, the threat of another severe flood looms once again.

China's Ministry of Water Resources has activated a Level‑IV emergency flood response. The warning was issued concerning the risk of rupture of a new Barrier Lake that has formed near the Tibet‑Nepal border.

The new lake has heightened concerns.

According to China, a large barrier lake formed after a landslide near the confluence of the Chhochen Khola and Purepu Tsangpo rivers. By Thursday morning, it was estimated that about 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated, and an additional 3 million cubic metres of water were projected to enter in the next three days.

However, on Friday, Nepali authorities reported that the lake had ruptured, raising concerns that a surge of water would flow into Nepal