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

The U.S. Geological Survey on Wednesday reported a magnitude 5.2 glacier collapse that sent debris flowing downstream with catastrophic impact on communities.

Chinese water resources authorities have issued an urgent warning after a massive barrier lake holding around 2 million cubic metres of water formed near the Nepal-Tibet border, raising fears of another major flood downstream.

A devastating series of deadly flash floods has destroyed villages in parts of Nepal and Tibet, with hundreds missing, including some Canadians, as experts say a falling glacier likely triggered a chain reaction of catastrophic events that could get worse in the coming days.

Chinese scientists have developed a cross-border early warning system with counterparts in Nepal to monitor Himalayan glacial lake outburst floods.