Barrier lake flood hits pivotal highway linking Tibet

Traffic was halted on the key Sichuan-Tibet Highway in China on Wednesday after water discharged from a landslide-formed lake damaged a bridge, local officials said.

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

The highway is a pivotal route linking Sichuan and neighbouring Tibet Autonomous Region, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

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, 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.

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.