The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued a warning regarding the potential for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the northern regions of the province. This alert comes in response to rising temperatures, which are causing glaciers to melt and increasing the risk of flooding.
Key Points:
•High-Risk Districts: The PDMA has identified Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat, and Kohistan as high-risk areas due to the presence of numerous glaciers.
•Recent Incidents: In August 2024, a GLOF in Upper Chitral displaced 30 families, highlighting the severity of the threat.
•Climate Change Impact: Experts report that approximately 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan are receding due to climate change-induced temperature rise.
•Public Advisory: Residents in the affected areas are urged to remain vigilant, report any unusual occurrences to the PDMA’s emergency number 1700, and avoid unnecessary travel.
The PDMA has activated its Emergency Operations Centre and is coordinating with local administrations to ensure preparedness and response capabilities are in place.