Landslide in Pakistan

Landslide in the Hunza Valley, Pakistan, 2010More than 20 years ago, I was offered a PhD. I was asked to investigate the impact that the construction of the Karakoram Highway had on the people in the Hunza Valley. The German Research Foundation would even have paid well for it. I decided otherwise.
Nevertheless, a piece of my heart has remained there. With the people I never met, but who could have been part of my life. That's why I'm particularly moved to read about the landslide that - almost unnoticed by the world - is threatening the lives of the people there.
In January, a huge Landslide - half a mountain came down - blocking the flow of a river. The natural dam caused the meltwater that normally drains there to back up. A huge lake formed, which is now 13 kilometres long. The water has nowhere to go, flooding houses, gardens, bridges and the Karakoram Highway in the narrow valley. People lose their belongings.
But that's not the worst of it. If the dam bursts - which is expected in the next few weeks - a flood wave up to 60 metres high is expected. I am very worried about the people in the region. I pray that the measures to allow the water to flow away in a controlled manner will succeed.


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