Gilgit-Baltistan: A glacier burst in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghizer district wreaked havoc on Thursday, creating an artificial lake and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents from the affected areas.
According to rescue authorities, nearly 200 people were shifted to safer locations in Sumal and Yangal after floodwaters from the burst damaged homes and agricultural land. While infrastructure has been affected, officials confirmed that no loss of life has been reported so far.
Rescue in-charge Muhammad Iqbal said teams were on high alert to deal with the situation, adding that people from low-lying settlements were immediately moved to avoid any casualties. He further stated that temporary relief arrangements, including shelter and food supplies, were being organized for the displaced families.
Glacier bursts and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have become an increasingly common threat in Gilgit-Baltistan, a mountainous region highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt, raising the risk of sudden floods that often damage villages, farmland, and roads.
Environmental experts have repeatedly warned that communities in Ghizer, Hunza, and other districts remain at risk due to unstable glaciers and the formation of new glacial lakes. Pakistan is home to over 7,000 glaciers—the highest number outside the polar regions—many of which are now melting at an unprecedented pace.
Authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with rescue teams, stressing that precautionary measures are essential to minimize the risks associated with such disasters.
Earlier this month, a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) from the Shishper Glacier surged through the Hassanabad Nullah, washing away a section of the Karakoram Highway and damaging both public and private property.
On August 1, a glacier burst in Bagrot Valley claimed the life of one individual and left his father injured, according to the regional government’s spokesperson.