Northern Pakistan has been placed on high alert after the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of an increased risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as an intense heatwave is expected to continue until the first week of July. Authorities say soaring temperatures are accelerating glacier and snowfield melting across the country’s northern mountain ranges.
The Met Office warned that rapidly melting glaciers are causing rivers and streams to swell, increasing the likelihood of dangerous glacial lake overflows. Existing glacial lakes may expand quickly, while continued meltwater could also lead to the formation of new lakes in vulnerable mountain regions. Officials cautioned that the natural ice and moraine dams holding back these lakes may become unstable under growing pressure.
If these natural barriers collapse, they could trigger sudden and destructive GLOF events, sending massive volumes of water into downstream valleys with little or no warning. Authorities warned that low-lying settlements located along rivers are particularly vulnerable, while flash floods, landslides, rockfalls, and debris flows also pose significant threats to mountain communities, roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure.
The Meteorological Department has advised residents and tourists to avoid rivers, streams, seasonal waterways, glacial lakes, and narrow mountain valleys during the current weather conditions. Camping, trekking, and other outdoor activities in high-risk areas have also been strongly discouraged until the threat subsides.
The latest advisory comes only weeks after the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission identified 130 potentially dangerous glacial lakes across the country that could trigger GLOF events. According to SUPARCO, 24 unfrozen glacial lakes are currently under continuous satellite monitoring to track changing water levels and assess risks to downstream populations.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has directed hospitals across the province to establish dedicated emergency units for patients suffering from heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. Officials say Pakistan is facing one of its most dangerous glacier-melt seasons in recent years, with authorities maintaining heightened emergency preparedness as extreme temperatures continue to increase the risk of floods, landslides, and other climate-related disasters across northern regions.
Also read: NDMA Warns of Rain, Thunderstorms and Flood Risks
