Glacier lake outburst floods cause Pakistan bridge to collapse

Glacier lake outburst floods cause Pakistan bridge to collapse

Record-breaking high temperatures in Pakistan have triggered the collapse of the Hassanabad Bridge along the Karakoram Highway in the Hunza Valley. The ongoing, unprecedented heatwave has melted ice on the Hisper Glacier, creating a flooded lake, destroying bridges and damaging nearby homes, buildings and two power plants.

The event was the latest in a series of devastating events in the region known as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods. As South Asia enters an extreme summer, it is important to analyze the impact of severe climate change in the region and urge immediate local and international action to combat the climate crisis.

Hassanabad Bridge in KKH collapses as Shishper Glacier Lake erupts #hunza #climateemergency #ClimateActionNow #climatecrisis #global warming pic.twitter.com/ANmp1neNZe

— Pamir Times® (@pamirtimes) May 7, 2022

This summer’s sweltering heat has arrived in South Asia earlier than expected. Jakobabad, a city in southwestern Pakistan, beat At 120ºF (49ºC), April is one of the warmest April temperatures recorded in the world.It is reported that the heat wave has killed Pakistan has more than 65 people, but the actual number is expected to be higher. As global temperatures rise further, projections suggest Pakistan could warm by 6.3ºF (3.5ºC) by 2100. A sharp rise in temperatures could accelerate glacial melt and flooding, affecting the country’s most vulnerable, underserved and inaccessible communities.

A dozen houses, a community center, among properties worth tens of millions #hasanabad village #hunzawithin a few hours.

flood from nearby #Shisper The glaciers are hitting the village, and the locals are watching eagerly. pic.twitter.com/Jts2pmO03a

— Pamir Times® (@pamirtimes) May 7, 2022

The Hassanabad Bridge tragedy was not entirely unexpected. The lake has been the source of other major outbreaks in recent years, including two in 2019. Marcus NusseltA geographer from Heidelberg University told GlacierHub, “It is expected that sooner or later this dammed lake will erupt again.” He explained that the construction of the Hassanabad bridge did not cause a disaster, but the location of the bridge exposed it to the glacial lake Outburst flood.

Still, the timing of the event was unexpected. Sher MohammedSuch events are expected to occur later in the summer, when extreme heat is more common, said glaciologists at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Nepal. “The temperature observed in April this year is almost similar to the historically observed normal temperature in May,” he said.

While most glacial lakes typically form in May, rapid snowmelt contributed to the early formation of glacial lakes that led to flooding. Mohammed further expressed concern about the rising temperature trend in South Asia this year. “If this temperature increase persists in the summer,” he said, “it could increase the chances of glacial surges, glacial lake outburst floods, river flooding and related disasters.”

Latest Sentinel-2 images show sudden lake drainage in just 5 days pic.twitter.com/E3OUX4SRp1

— Simon Gascoin (@sgascoin) May 10, 2022

While Mohammed and his colleagues have done important work in identifying similar dangerous events so that nearby communities can be warned in a timely manner, in this case the short distance between the lake and the village makes it difficult to early warning system to be effective.

Hasanabad Bridge and its surrounding village of the same name are popular destinations for domestic tourists. The collapse of the bridge caused severe traffic congestion in the area, leading the Gilgit-Baltistan Provincial Tourism Office to offer an alternative route through the neighboring city. Police also declared a state of emergency and moved tourists to a safer location nearby. The Regional State Highway Administration pledged to repair and restore the bridge in a timely manner.

Buildings in Hunza Valley. photo: Chowdhury Hawar/flick

While large eruptions at Shisper Lake are not uncommon, this one caused unusual damage. The Hasanabad Bridge is particularly important to Pakistan’s economy as it links Pakistan to an important trade and political partner, China. nation The collapse of the bridge cut off the main route between Pakistan and China as there was no alternative route for large vehicles, the report said.

The full extent of damage to cross-border trade has yet to be determined, but is expected to be substantial. For now, the immediate threat of such events, and those expected in the future, raises concerns about the lack of early warning signals and preparedness services in the region. Hunza Valleyprone to glacial lake outburst flood disasters.

In response to the bridge collapse, Pakistan’s federal climate change minister stressed the impact of climate change on crops and water supplies, and urged the international community emission reduction immediately. While wealthier countries such as the United States and China are largely responsible for historical CO2 emissions, low-income countries such as Pakistan tend to be hardest hit by the effects of climate change.

However, despite the swift action of local authorities promising a speedy recovery and the event being widely reported by local and international media, Gilgit-Baltistan’s provincial issues have been ignored by mainstream politicians for decades. The impact of climate change on melting glaciers and natural disasters is not a new phenomenon. Local communities and livelihoods continue to be affected, reflecting the lack of political action to prevent similar disasters. From promoting climate-friendly attitudes to ensuring a prompt and comprehensive response to disasters triggered by the collapse of glacial lakes, governments have a responsibility to protect their most vulnerable communities.

The eruption of the Shisper glacier was a social and economic disaster. Mohammad said similar events are expected in the coming months, especially if Pakistan experiences abnormal monsoon rains. These hazards will continue to threaten communities living near glaciers and along and downstream of mountain rivers.

The effects of rapid glacier melt are set to worsen unless a series of measures, especially short-term scale-up, rapid and easy-to-implement programs, are implemented to address emergency health, relocation and reconstruction services, and longer-term climate change awareness campaigns.

The bridge’s collapse shows that warming from climate change is affecting the world’s tallest mountain. It also demonstrates the role of vulnerability related to poverty and weak governance in exacerbating the impacts of climate change.