Overview
- A glacier collapse and glacial lake outburst flood in the Matiltan area of Upper Swat on Saturday left seven people trapped and prompted an active search for missing mountaineer Mian Syed Ali Shah.
- Rescue 1122 said teams pulled six expedition members to safety, three of whom were injured and transferred from Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Kalam to Central Hospital Saidu Sharif for further treatment.
- Rescuers reported that Shah fell after his safety rope snapped and that search operations are being hampered by extremely remote, steep terrain and difficult access.
- The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued a GLOF alert forecasting a westerly wave from July 19 to 25 that, together with high daytime temperatures, could accelerate melt and increase flood and debris-flow risks while the NDMA has warned of flash floods and landslides across multiple regions.
- Glacial lake outburst floods occur when meltwater or ice fails suddenly and sends fast-moving water and debris downstream, and officials say rising temperatures and shifting monsoon patterns are making such sudden events more likely and threatening downstream communities and mountain visitors.