Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has identified 130 potentially dangerous glacial lakes across the country’s northern regions that could pose risks to nearby communities in the event of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
According to Suparco, satellite monitoring conducted using images captured on May 31 and June 1, 2026 found that 24 of the 130 identified lakes are currently unfrozen and under close observation, while the majority remain frozen.
The agency said satellite-based mapping has been used to assess the location of the lakes and identify populations that could be vulnerable to flooding if a glacial lake bursts.
Suparco has been regularly monitoring potentially hazardous glacial lakes and sharing its findings with relevant authorities, including disaster management agencies and the Ministry of Climate Change.
The assessment was carried out using data provided by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA).
Officials said updated information on glacial lakes is essential for improving disaster preparedness and response planning in vulnerable mountain regions.
Stay Connected with ProPakistani
Get the latest news and stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
