By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: A 7-kilometre (4-mile) lake formed by a massive mudslide in northern Pakistan is at risk of bursting, threatening potentially “catastrophic” floods in downstream communities, Reuters reported on Saturday.
The lake emerged after a mud flow descended into the main Ghizer River channel in Gilgit-Baltistan province on Friday, completely blocking the waterway, according to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The provincial office of the NDMA described the blockage as a “dam-like structure” that could give way under pressure.
“The new lake can cause a catastrophic flood,” Zakir Hussain, director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, told Reuters. He said four downstream districts—Ghizer, Gilgit, Astore, and Diamer—face a serious threat.
The affected area lies north of Pakistan’s mountain districts in the northwest, where floods triggered by this year’s intense monsoon rains and cloudbursts have already claimed nearly 400 lives since August 15.
A video shared by the NDMA on a WhatsApp group used for official statements showed black mud sliding down a mountainside before crashing into the river. An NDMA official said the footage was recorded by residents. Provincial government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq confirmed that similar mud flows from different mountainsides had contributed to the river’s blockage.
A shepherd on higher ground was the first to spot the initial mud flow and alerted villagers and local authorities, Faraq said. The early warning enabled the rescue of nearly 200 people from dozens of scattered homes along the mountainsides and riverbanks.
While the lake has begun discharging water, reducing the immediate risk of a full breach, Faraq cautioned that flash floods in downstream districts remain a possibility until the lake is fully cleared. Authorities have directed communities along the river to remain on high alert and evacuate low-lying areas.
Pakistan has been grappling with severe flooding since the monsoon season began in late June, with the NDMA reporting 785 deaths nationwide. The agency has warned of two additional rain spells expected by September 10, which could exacerbate the crisis.
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