Thousands flee after landslide blocks Nepal river: Official

Vehicles pass by a landslide after the earthquake in the Gorkha district of Nepal on May 20, 2015. A landslide in the Myagdi district on Sunday, May 24, sent mud and rocks surging into the Kali Gandaki river, causing thousands of panic-stricken villa
Vehicles pass by a landslide after the earthquake in the Gorkha district of Nepal on May 20, 2015. A landslide in the Myagdi district on Sunday, May 24, sent mud and rocks surging into the Kali Gandaki river, causing thousands of panic-stricken villagers to flee their homes. -- PHOTO: REUTERS 

KATHMANDU (AFP) - Thousands of panic-stricken villagers fled their homes fearing flash floods after an overnight landslide blocked a river in quake-hit Nepal's mountainous north-west, officials said on Sunday.

The landslide, which occurred at around midnight, sent mud and rocks surging into the Kali Gandaki river in Myagdi district, causing water levels to rise by 150m, local official Yam Bahadur Chokhal said.

"We have evacuated about 100 people from the affected area, people in other villages don't need immediate rescue but thousands have left on their own," Mr Chokhal told AFP.

As fresh landslides dumped debris into the river during the day, the 2km-long artificial lake created by the blockage began to overflow the newly created dam, Home Ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal told AFP. "The artificial lake has begun to overflow the dam... but there does not appear to be any risk of flooding," he said.

An army helicopter carrying soldiers and geologists has reached the site, according to Home Ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal. "The chopper has landed and our experts are now assessing the situation to find the best way to open the blockage and drain the 2km-long artificial lake created by the landslide," Mr Dhakal told AFP.

Fresh, smaller landslides have occurred through the morning and are continuing to send debris into the river, hampering efforts to clear the blockage, according to police and district officials.

The region has witnessed several small landslides in recent days, said local official Trivikram Sharma, based in the district headquarters of Beni, 185km west of Kathmandu.

"After the two quakes, villagers have reported several minor landslides and late last night, they said the hill just came down," Mr Sharma told AFP.

"We cannot immediately assess the risk of flash floods but people are obviously scared that the artificial dam will burst suddenly and submerge their homes," Mr Sharma said.

No one was hurt or killed in the landslide, according to officials.

Police have issued an alert for villagers living along the river, which begins near the Nepal-China border and flows into northern India, eventually joining the Ganges.

The snow-fed waters are also the site of Nepal's largest hydroelectric project that generates 144MW of power, located south of the landslide-blocked area.

Twin quakes have devastated Nepal in recent weeks, killing more than 8,600 people, while leaving thousands in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter.

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