Heat wave floods destroy bridge in Pakistan

This is one of the consequences of the rising temperatures in recent days in the region. A bridge on a major road in a remote region of northern Pakistan has collapsed under the influence of flash floods caused by a glacier ruptured by a heat wave, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said Tuesday, May 10.

a few days ago Tweet embed Warn that Pakistan’s vulnerability is high due to high temperatures. The Hassanabad Bridge over KKH collapsed due to GLOF from melting Shisper glacier causing erosion under the columns. She told FWO she will have a temporary bridge in 48 hours. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/Sjl9QIMI0G

– SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) May 7, 2022

Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change, appearing as the eighth most threatened country by extreme weather events, according to a study by the non-governmental organization Germanwatch. The country is currently being hit by a record heat wave, which experts attribute to climate change, with temperatures possibly reaching 50 degrees Celsius in some places this week, according to forecasts.

Sherry Rehman explained that a bridge collapsed in Hassanabad village in Gilgit-Baltistan region, on Saturday after a glacial lake (Gluve, according to the English acronym) drained due to suddenly high temperatures. An avalanche occurs when an ice dam of a glacial lake suddenly breaks, sending waves rushing down the slope, sweeping away everything in its path.

Pakistan has more than 7000 glaciers in its territory, which is more number than any other country on Earth outside the polar lands. But the glaciers of northern Pakistan, in the Himalayas or the Hindu Kush, “melt quickly”, Sherry Rahman warned. The minister said, who believes that the current heat wave in the country and neighboring India is more than 3000 glacial lakes formed in northern Pakistan, 33 of which are at high risk of flooding. “Direct consequence of climatic stress”.