Pakistan Issues Glacial Flood Alert as Heavy Monsoon Rains Continue
Pakistan Issues Glacial Flood Alert as Heavy Monsoon Rains Continue
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Pakistan has issued warnings of glacial flooding in its northwest regions, including popular tourist destinations like Fairy Meadows, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan, amid above-average monsoon rains this season, Al Jazeera reported. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Disaster Management Authority reported heavier downpours than last year, prompting alerts for flooding caused by glacial lake outbursts.
Recent flash floods and landslides have caused severe destruction, damaging homes, infrastructure, and crops. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, including helicopter evacuations of stranded tourists near Fairy Meadows and Naran. In Gilgit-Baltistan, authorities distributed tents, food, and medicine to flood-affected communities after a cloudburst killed three people and stranded over 200 tourists.
Officials warn that while weather advisories reduce tourist presence, some still visit despite risks. Pakistan’s monsoon rains, vital for agriculture, have worsened flood impacts due to climate change, poor drainage, and rapid urbanization. This year’s rains raise fears of another devastating flood like in 2022, which killed 1,737 people and displaced millions. Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to climate change despite low emissions.
