Dam Burst Destroys Three Villages in Tibet

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By Dorji Kyi / August 7, 2016;

Map showing Lhaze countty

A dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the upper tributary of the Brahmaputra River) ruptured in Lhaze county, Tibet on August 2, destroying three villages near Tashi Ghang town, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). Chinese state Xinhua news agency has confirmed that no one was hurt during the flood, however, it has been reported that water from the dam has damaged more than 100 hectares of crops and forest. Villagers were forced to leave their houses.

According to news.xinhuanet.com the flood was caused by heavy rainfall in southwest Tibet. The same news website has mentioned that hundreds of people have died or gone missing in China during the monsoon period of heavy rainfall since early June this year. Chinese officials have used state media channels to notify people of the need to keep track of the unpredictable weather for their own safety. They have sent teams to work on flood control in the damaged areas.