(Yicai Global) Aug. 19 -- The Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of Chinese Academy of Sciences issued an early warning based on real-time remote sensing analysis and on-site investigation about the risk of glacier lake outburst flood on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The probability of GLOF in the east-central section of the Himalayas and Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains is three times that of other regions, it added.

The risk of GLOF on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau continues to increase due to recent ongoing heavy rainfall, according to the report by China Science Daily today.

The Jinwucuo Moraine Lake in Jiali county, Tibet outpoured on June 25. The flood peak, with 7 million cubic of outflow, reached Niwu township in the lower reaches the next day. NIEER went to investigate the disaster site on Aug. 5.

The deluge submerged or destroyed 382.43 mu (25.5 hectares) of farmland, tore down almost 43.9 kilometers of roads, six steel-framed bridges and one suspension bridge, and engulfed the CNY8.4-million (USD1.2 million) Yiga scenic spot project which was 45 percent complete. Many buildings are still at high risk now.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is very likely to suffer another outburst flood. Once it happens, it will seriously endanger the Qinghai-Tibet, Xinjiang-Tibet, Sichuan-Tibet, Yunnan-Tibet highways and railways, as well as important infrastructure in downstream cities and towns, and the safety of people's lives and property, said Wang Shijin, a doctor at NIEER.

Editor: Ben Armour