00:18The danger on the China-Nepal border is far from over.
00:22A lake formed after a glacier collapse triggered catastrophic flooding has now
00:27begun to overflow, according to Chinese authorities. The development has forced
00:32rescue personnel to withdraw from the immediate danger zone. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV
00:39reported that the unstable lake could still burst, unleashing another devastating wave of
00:45water and debris downstream. Authorities are also warning of secondary disasters,
00:50including mountain collapses and avalanches. The latest threat comes just days after
00:55catastrophic flooding tore through communities on both sides of the Himalayas.
01:00The scale of the threat is growing rapidly. Chinese authorities say the reservoir behind
01:06the debris dam has already exceeded 2.5 million cubic meters of water. Just one day earlier,
01:13estimates had placed the volume between 1.5 and 2 million cubic meters. That means the lake is
01:19filling at an alarming rate. An eight-member Chinese engineering team has been surveying the area using
01:25aerial reconnaissance and three-dimensional modeling. But access to the site remains extremely difficult.
01:32Engineers say isolated cliffs and steep terrain have appeared around the newly formed lake following
01:38the glacier collapse. Chinese authorities are warning that the situation could deteriorate even further.
01:44Around 3 million cubic meters of additional water are expected to flow into the already dammed lake over the
01:51next three days. That is roughly equivalent to 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Officials say the
01:59enormous volume could dramatically increase pressure on the debris barrier. The peak flow is expected around
02:05September 1. If the barrier fails, a sudden release could send a powerful surge downstream toward already
02:12devastated areas. Weather conditions are adding another layer of danger. Light to moderate rainfall has been reported
02:19around the Zhirong border port area. That rain is loosening and destabilizing soil and rock surrounding the
02:26already precarious zone upstream. Forecasters expect the rainfall to continue through the coming week.
02:32Chinese engineers say one possible solution is to excavate a drainage channel through a lower section of
02:38the debris dam. But even that operation carries enormous risks. The lake itself is estimated to be about
02:45150 meters long and between 40 and 50 meters deep. Chinese rescue personnel and vehicles have now been
02:52moved away from the immediate danger zone. The withdrawal follows warnings that the barrier lake could suddenly
02:58breach. Authorities are preparing for another destructive flood while keeping rescue teams on
03:04standby in safer areas. Aerial footage released by Chinese state media shows brown water accumulating behind a massive
03:11barrier of debris and stones. For rescuers already operating in one of the world's most dangerous disaster
03:18zones, the margin for error is shrinking. On the Nepalese side, the human toll is already staggering. The death
03:25toll from the catastrophic Nepal-Tibet glacial flood has risen to 469, while more than 1,300 people remain
03:34missing, according to officials. Nearly 1,000 people are reportedly still missing across both sides of the border.
03:42Among them are hundreds of foreign nationals from dozens of countries. The immediate crisis may have passed, but the
03:48danger has not. A rapidly filling barrier lake, unstable mountains, and continuing rainfall have created the
03:55possibility of another catastrophic flood. China has warned of a potential breach, while Nepal continues its desperate search for
04:03survivors and the missing.
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