Barrier lake flood damages pivotal highway linking Sichuan to Tibet

Jinshajiang Bridge on construction

A bridge across the Jinsha River was damaged after water was discharged from a landslide-formed lake, Sichuan Traffic Radio reported. The bridge connecting the highway is a pivotal route linking Sichuan and neighboring Tibet Autonomous Region.

A landslide led to the formation of a barrier lake on the river on October 11. Water levels returned to normal on October 14 with no casualties reported before a second landslide blocked the river again on November 3.

The Sichuan provincial transportation department said part of the Zhubalong Jinsha River Bridge, located in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, was destroyed by the discharged water.

Authorities discharged water from the barrier lake on Tuesday afternoon and submerged the bridge, which had been reinforced in anticipation of the deluge.

No casualties have been reported from the discharge because some 34,200 people were evacuated along the river as the lake’s water level continued to rise, which helped lower water levels of the barrier lake.

The department said repair work of the highway will start as soon as the water subsides.