The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has cautioned about potential glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) in the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Gilgit Baltistan, citing rising temperatures and anticipated heavy rainfall.
According to the weather authority, this is likely to result in increased water levels in local rivers and streams, landslides, and flash flooding, reported Government Media.
The NDMA has told the Provincial Disaster Management Authority of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authority to work with other departments to make sure they are ready and can respond quickly to any emergencies.
Furthermore, to alert local communities, tourists, and travelers in the at-risk areas, departments have been instructed to perform their designated duties. Locals and tourists have also been advised to avoid unnecessary travel.
Notably, many glaciers in the mountainous regions of Gilgit Baltistan have been melting over the past several years. The melting glaciers are leaving behind new glacial lakes holding millions of cubic meters of water. These lakes present a risk of GLOFs, usually contained by dams of loose boulders and soil.
Over 1,700 people were killed as a result of floods in 2022 caused by record monsoon rains and glacial melt in the northern mountains. A total of 33 million people out of a population of 220 million were affected.
