Nepal is facing another serious emergency after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck China’s Sichuan province on Friday, while authorities issued a fresh flood warning in the already devastated Himalayan region. The latest alert has triggered renewed evacuations around the Trishuli area, where officials fear rising water levels could cause another dangerous flood.
According to reports, the earthquake struck Longchang City in southwest China’s Sichuan province. The tremor came as rescue and relief operations were already underway following the catastrophic floods that struck Nepal and Tibet earlier this week.
Fresh Flood Threat Near Trishuli
Nepal Police issued an urgent warning after receiving information that a water barrier or dam on the Tibet side had burst again. Authorities urged security personnel, rescue workers and members of the public in vulnerable areas to remain on high alert and move to safer locations.
The heavy flow of water from higher elevations has raised concerns that the Trishuli River could rise rapidly, creating another threat to communities and rescue teams operating in the region. The Trishuli area is already among the locations affected by the devastating Himalayan floods.
The renewed danger has forced authorities to evacuate people again and temporarily disrupt some rescue activities. Officials are closely monitoring water levels and conditions along the river system.
Nepal Already Battling Catastrophic Floods
The latest warning comes just days after a devastating flood disaster along the Nepal-China border. A glacier collapse and massive debris flow triggered torrents of water, mud and rocks, destroying homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
The disaster has killed hundreds of people and left more than a thousand missing across Nepal and Tibet. A landslide-formed barrier lake on the border also began overflowing, raising fears of a secondary flood and forcing rescue teams to reassess operations.
Rescue Operations Under Pressure
Nepal's emergency services, police, army and volunteers continue searching for survivors and missing people. However, damaged roads, bridges and communication networks are making rescue efforts extremely difficult.
The combination of the fresh earthquake, the reported dam breach and unstable water levels has increased the danger for both residents and rescuers.
Authorities are urging people in flood-prone areas, particularly around the Trishuli River, to follow evacuation instructions and avoid returning to vulnerable locations until officials declare them safe.
With the Himalayan region still recovering from one of its worst recent disasters, the latest flood warning has added another layer of uncertainty to an already critical rescue operation.
