Udayapur, Sept. 11 -- Flood risk downstream has eased after water began gradually flowing through the Hunga Khola in Solukhumbu, where a landslide had blocked the river and formed a natural dam on Friday morning.

The landslide occurred between wards 2 and 4 of Mahakulung Rural Municipality at around 7 am, creating a roughly 100-metre-long blockage. Water began flowing through the dam about three hours later.

Tubaraj Pokhrel, chief district officer of neighbouring Okhaldhunga, said the risk appeared to be declining as water gradually began spilling from the upper section of the lake formed behind the landslide.

Authorities had been concerned that a sudden breach of the dam could send a flash flood downstream, threatening settlements and...