The
quickly-rising Attabad Lake in a mountainous northern region of the
country has resulted in over 17,000 people already having to leave their
homes. The lake, which was formed from a massive landslide on January 4
that cost at least 20 lives and blocked the River Hunza, left thousands
stranded as well as transportation and trade with China disrupted due
to closure of the area’s Karakoram Highway.
On Saturday, May 15,
the water level of the lake was noted to have already risen an alarming
341 feet, just a few meters below its limit, and submerged 120 houses,
resulting in homelessness for 1,300 people and 12,000 others in some 36
downstream villages to seek higher ground.
Officials and experts
now fear that the wall around the lake may burst, releasing a tidal
wave up to 60 meters high into the valley.
Downstream
evacuations continue, with the government having set up shelters and
relief camps as well as a siren system to alert the locals of danger.
Visiting the region, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani pledged
financial help. Meanwhile, army engineers have dug a spillway to divert
the water into a river, but experts caution that the channel could
fail. Some officials now recommend requesting help from China, whose
government has more experience in these situations.
Our
appreciation, Pakistani government, officials, and all personnel working
to assist the region’s residents. We are deeply affected by this bad
news and pray that with Allah’s grace, may the Pakistani people be
protected as humanity hastens to ensure our planetary safety through the
adoption of eco-conscious lifestyles.
Ever concerned for
humanity’s welfare in facing this plight, Supreme Master Ching Hai in a
September 2009 videoconference in Peru once again spoke of such imminent
global warming effects as glacial ice melt, urging for wise action.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
Glaciers melt in many places so dramatically that one moment there are
massive floods, and soon after, a drought. So how can we handle the mass
migration of tens of millions of people all at once?
It’s very
difficult and maybe even impossible. And it’s not just numbers. Every
child, family, and society will be affected in some way by this
experience of trauma and tragedy.
We are not ready for the
changes that are coming. We are not ready at all. We are not prepared
enough. Some of the changes are even anticipated to be unexpected,
because there are many complicated interacting factors.
The
smartest way would be to stop the worsening of global warming by being
vegan. It sounds very simple but it is the best solution, the most
effective and the effect of it will be felt almost immediately.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/23/wave-threat-himalayan-lake-pakistan http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=104781 http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=104743 http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=103056&Itemid=2http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=104806 http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100515/FOREIGN/705149845/1135/hajNewhttp://blogs.aljazeera.net/asia/2010/05/14/new-lake-threatens-havoc-pakistanhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8682130.stm http://tribune.com.pk/story/15952/attabad-%E2%80%98water-bomb%E2%80%99-countdown/ http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=11185