Pakistan has issued a fresh alert for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in its northwest, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the region faces intense rainfall and rising temperatures. With more heavy rain forecast over the coming week, disaster management authorities are on high alert.
Spokesperson Anwar Shahzad from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Disaster Management Authority noted that downpours in the region have already surpassed last year’s levels. A warning letter issued mid-July cautioned that “persistent high temperatures may accelerate snow and glacier melt,” triggering flooding in vulnerable mountain areas.
One of the worst-hit spots is the scenic town of Naran, where a cloudburst late Friday night caused a major road closure. More than 500 stranded tourists were rescued, confirmed Dr Abdul Samad of the provincial tourism department. Heavy machinery was deployed to clear debris and reopen key routes.
In neighbouring Gilgit-Baltistan, the government has rushed hundreds of tents, food supplies, and medical kits to affected communities. Spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said flooding had caused “severe destruction,” damaging homes, roads, crops, and businesses. In some areas, search teams are still trying to locate missing persons.
Babusar Highway, which links major tourist and remote mountainous regions, saw flooding sweep through nine villages. Tourists stranded at Fairy Meadows a popular alpine destination were airlifted to safety by military helicopters.
So far, this monsoon season has already claimed around 260 lives across Pakistan, raising fears of a repeat of the catastrophic 2022 floods that inundated a third of the country and killed over 1,700 people. The season is expected to continue through mid-September.
Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains one of the countries most at risk from climate change. Experts warn that rising temperatures and erratic rainfall are increasing the frequency and severity of glacial floods and other climate-driven disasters.