PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) – On Saturday, officials in Pakistan issued warnings regarding potential glacial flooding in the northwest region, anticipating further rainfall in the coming week. The local disaster management authority reported that downpours in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have been significantly heavier than the same time last year, leading to weather advisories and alerts for flooding due to potential glacial lake outbursts.
Anwar Shahzad, a spokesperson for the disaster management authority, noted that a letter sent out in mid-July indicated that “persistent high temperatures may accelerate snow and glacier melt and subsequent weather events” in vulnerable areas of the region. This concern is exacerbated by the ongoing monsoon season, which has resulted in above-average rainfall across the country.
Dr. Abdul Samad from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department reported that rescue teams successfully evacuated more than 500 holidaymakers from Naran after an overnight cloudburst led to road closures. Authorities are deploying heavy machinery to clear debris and restore access to affected areas.
In the adjacent Gilgit-Baltistan region, the government has distributed hundreds of tents, thousands of food packets, and medicines to support flood-affected communities. Spokesperson Faizullah Firaq commented on the “severe destruction” evident in various locales, including damage to houses, infrastructure, crops, and local businesses due to the floods.
Ongoing search operations are being conducted to locate missing individuals along the Babusar Highway, where flooding has impacted nine villages. Additionally, helicopters have been utilized to rescue tourists stranded in popular locations such as Fairy Meadows.
This monsoon season has raised considerable concerns reminiscent of the catastrophic floods in 2022, which submerged a third of the country and resulted in the loss of 1,737 lives. As of this season, approximately 260 fatalities have been reported across Pakistan, a grim reminder of the country's vulnerability to extreme weather events.
As a nation significantly affected by climate change while contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan faces unique challenges in disaster preparedness and response. Such weather patterns threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation strategies.
