▲ The Great Flood
Search and rescue operations at the site of a massive landslide in the Tibet Autonomous Region have been temporarily suspended due to fears that a natural dam formed upstream by soil and rock blocking a river could collapse, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on the 28th.
According to the report, a large lake was formed about 10 kilometers upstream from the Gyirong Port after a landslide and glacier collapse blocked the river.
As of the previous morning, approximately 2 million cubic meters of water had accumulated at the site.
Chinese authorities stated that about 3 million cubic meters of additional water are expected to flow in over the next three days. With water already flowing over the natural dam formed by earth and rock, the risk of a collapse is high.
There are concerns that if the accumulated water continues to rise and breaches the natural embankment, it could trigger sudden floods or additional landslides downstream.
Consequently, authorities temporarily suspended on-site search and rescue operations to ensure the safety of rescue workers.
Authorities have deployed satellite communication equipment, reconnaissance drones, and 3D laser scanners to capture imagery of the natural dam and surrounding terrain while analyzing the possibility of a collapse.
However, due to the steep cliffs and rugged terrain surrounding the natural dam, it has been reported that neither rescue personnel nor heavy machinery such as excavators can approach the embankment area.
Continuous rain in the Gyirong Port area recently has left the mountainous soil and rock formations weakened.
Meteorological authorities warn that rain is likely to continue for the next week, keeping the risk of secondary disasters such as landslides high.
Previously, at around 10:30 a.m. on the 26th, a landslide triggered by a glacier and rock collapse hit the Gyirong Port area in Gyirong County, Xigaze, in the Tibet Autonomous Region near the China-Nepal border. Debris flows swept through the area, causing casualties and severing roads and communication networks.
As of 8:00 a.m. on the 27th, Chinese authorities reported 3 deaths and 558 missing.
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