Nepal Flood Crisis: 3,000 Missing as Authorities Monitor Dangerous Lakes

Nepal is monitoring two lakes upstream of the flood zone where hundreds of people died on Wednesday, an official with Nepal’s Disaster Management Authority has said.
The official said flood risks would remain until the two lakes had fully drained, as one of the lakes began overflowing on Friday.
Satellite images showed the two lakes near the site where a glacier collapse was believed to have sent rock, ice, mud and debris into river systems on Wednesday. The resulting flood waves destroyed houses and swept away bridges.
A Chinese rescue team captured aerial footage of the formation of one of the lakes on Thursday, showing large quantities of brown water accumulating in a basin. By Friday, new satellite imagery indicated that water was draining from the lake.
The imagery also showed another lake upstream that appeared to be increasing in size. It had a larger surface area than the first lake and, as of Friday morning, had no visible outlet, raising concerns that water pressure could still be building.
Nepalese authorities are relying on satellite imagery to monitor the situation, although the country’s ability to track developments is limited by the availability of images.
The Nepalese official said authorities plan to install cameras and sensors downstream, including near the border town of Timure, while also assessing options for deploying the equipment by helicopter.
(Reuters)