Glacial Lake Bursts, Triggering Flash Floods in Bhutan

A flash flood struck the Gasa Tshachu hot-spring resort in Bhutan after the Shintaphu glacial lake burst. The disaster occurred late on Friday night (30 October 2026) and swept away infrastructure, including two bridges believed to have been carried off by the powerful current.

Bhutan’s national broadcaster, BBS, reported no deaths or injuries. The area had been evacuated before the flood arrived, according to Bhutan’s national newspaper Kuensel, as cited by Reuters.

BBS said the extent of the damage could not yet be determined because the flood struck in darkness and the water was flowing rapidly. Two Bailey bridges—structures assembled from portable components—were also believed to have been swept away.

The flooding also cut off access to Laya village, where the hot springs are located. Kuensel reported that parts of the road to the village had been washed away and were impassable, leading to the closure of the route until further notice.

Gasa Tshachu is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Bhutan, a mountainous Himalayan country between India and China. The area was also hit by a flash flood in 2021, when the Mochhu River changed course and inundated the hot-spring site.

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurs when water from a lake formed by melting glaciers is suddenly released. The phenomenon can trigger powerful floods that destroy roads, bridges and settlements downstream.

The threat of glacial flooding is also a concern elsewhere in the Himalayas. In Nepal, which borders China and lies about 600 kilometres west of Bhutan, a flash flood in August reportedly killed more than 1,500 people and left more than 5,000 missing.