ISLAMABAD: More than 300 houses and dozens of shops have been destroyed in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan's Ghizer district following a glacier burst that triggered a landslide and severe flooding, local media reported on Saturday.
The disaster, caused by a glacial lake outburst (GLOF), once again unleashed flooding across multiple villages, creating an artificial lake on Friday morning.
Several areas were submerged under water, causing extensive financial losses, though officials confirmed that no loss of human life had been reported.
The landslide, followed by the sudden GLOF, devastated Rawshan and Tildas villages early Friday morning. The resulting artificial lake, stretching more than seven kilometres, submerged farmland and swept away sections of the road network.
Locals reported that nearly 80 per cent of Rawshan village had been washed away in the disaster.
A report issued by the district administration on Saturday noted that the water level in the temporary lake created by the disaster has started receding, providing some relief and easing fears of further damage, according to the leading Pakistani media outlet Geo News.
The flood impacted a total of 330 houses in Tildas, Miduri, Mulaabad, Hawks Thangi, Rawshan and Goth villages, while dozens of shops also suffered heavy destruction.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Gupis Yasin said that tents, food supplies and other essential relief items were urgently required for displaced families.
Authorities confirmed that water was now flowing out of the artificial lake through a natural spillway, gradually reducing the level and lowering the risk of erosion in downstream areas.