At least 5 people are missing after a barrier lake bursts in Nepal, triggering floods

The Budhi Gandaki River in north-central Nepal has flooded due to the bursting of its barrier lake. Currently, five people are known to be missing and more than 30 houses have been washed away. (Reuters)

Nepal, which only suffered a flash flood of the century in August this year, suffered another flood today (11th) due to the bursting of a barrier lake. The authorities pointed out that it is known that five people were missing due to the flood, and many houses and bridges were damaged or destroyed.

The Associated Press reported that Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) pointed out that the flood was caused by the bursting of the barrier lake in the upper reaches of the Budhi Gandaki river. It has urgently evacuated residents along the river and urged everyone to increase their vigilance until tonight.

The Budhi Gandaki River is a tributary of the Trishuli River and an important waterway around the capital Kathmandu.

The National Disaster Mitigation Administration stated that five people are currently known to be missing, four bridges have been washed away or damaged, and about 36 houses have been washed away. In addition, many power and communication towers along the coast and a hydroelectric power plant construction site have also been damaged by floods.

The Nepalese military said in a statement that it has continued to dispatch helicopters and mobilized troops to rescue trapped people, and as of Sunday afternoon, 49 people had been rescued.