As a result the river flowing through the area has been blocked and
developed a massive lake. The lake is filling up fast.
The lake has cut off access to about 35000 people and the adjoining
villages since KKH aka N-35 in Pakistan has been wiped off in a few
places close by and the northern regions are now cut off from the rest
of the country. The area is now landlocked and airdrops are being used
to supply food. I'm not sure if supplies are coming in from the
Chinese side.
It is a major humanitarian disaster which can lead to infrastructure
damage as well, since recently a report mentioned that in case the
natural lake bursts (which it might since seepage has started) the
Tarbela Dam might be damaged in the ensuing flood.
My query and request here is that is it possible for the Maps/GE team
to assemble and provide recent high res Imagery for this area? Current
imagery dates from 2006.
Updated current imagery will help immensely in reaching out to those
stranded in the neighboring villages and assist the engineering teams
in getting on with draining and dismantling the dam.
This is the approx location: 36°19'0.00"N, 74°47'60.00"E (from GE)
Looking forward.
On Mar 17, 2:27 pm, momers <mom...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm not sure how many of you heard of this but early Jan this year,
> Attabad in Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan, was hit by a massive
> landslide.
>
> As a result the river flowing through the area has been blocked and
> developed a massive lake. The lake is filling up fast.
> The lake has cut off access to about 35000 people and the adjoining
> villages since KKH aka N-35 in Pakistan has been wiped off in a few
> places close by and the northern regions are now cut off from the rest
> of the country. The area is now landlocked and airdrops are being used
> to supply food. I'm not sure if supplies are coming in from the
> Chinese side.
>
> It is a major humanitarian disaster which can lead to infrastructure
> damage as well, since recently a report mentioned that in case the
> natural lake bursts (which it might since seepage has started) the
> Tarbela Dam might be damaged in the ensuing flood.
>
> My query and request here is that is it possible for the Maps/GE team
> to assemble and provide recent high res Imagery for this area? Current
> imagery dates from 2006.
>
> Updated current imagery will help immensely in reaching out to those
> stranded in the neighboring villages and assist the engineering teams
> in getting on with draining and dismantling the dam.
>
> This is the approx location: 36°19'0.00"N, 74°47'60.00"E (from GE)
>
> http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=gulmit+pa...
>
> Looking forward.
Mapmaker link for the location:
http://www.google.com/mapmaker?hl=en&q=atabad&gw=30&ll=36.313223,74.804707&spn=0.021613,0.044718&z=15&t=h
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\03\19\story_19-3-2010_pg7_15
Lake expansion threatens thousands in Hunza Valley
* Landslides created the water mass, which has cut off 25,000 people
* Government claims it has sent necessary supplies to the affected
area
ATTABAD: The water is rising day by day in this remote part of
northern Pakistan, and with it, so is the fear among thousands who
stand to lose their crops, their homes and maybe
even their lives.
A massive landslide early this year formed a natural dam in the Hunza
River, creating a lake that is consuming upstream villages, as it
expands. If the dam breaks, a flash flood could threaten downstream
villages too. The landslide also has blocked the Karakoram Highway, a
vital trade link to China, cutting off 25,000 people in the Upper
Hunza Valley.
“Why can’t the government remove this debris to give an outlet to the
water? Doesn’t it have sufficient machinery to do away with it?” asked
Ajaz Ali, who has watched in frustration as the water slowly submerges
his village of Shishkat.
The landslide was large even by the standards of the mountainous Hunza
region, whose beauty is said to have inspired James Hilton’s novel,
Lost Horizon, a tale of the mythical paradise of Shangri-La.
At least 19 people perished as the debris obstructed nearly 2
kilometres of the once fast-flowing river and a longer stretch of the
highway, a popular high-altitude route for backpackers that cuts
through stunning, snow capped peaks.
Those stranded in Upper Hunza are relying on relief supplies ferried
in mainly by helicopter. Hundreds of people have been displaced, and
many are living in relief camps.
The turquoise lake formed by the landslide is more than 11 kilometres
long, around 215 feet deep and is rising up to 1.5 feet a day,
according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). At
least one major bridge in the area has been submerged.
Workers have removed more than 100,000 cubic meters of debris in a
continuing effort to create a spillway for the water to pour through.
Some officials said they hope the spillway will be open by mid-April.
Clearing the Karakoram Highway will have to wait until the dam is
breached and the water recedes, officials said. “It is tedious work,”
said NDMA Chairman lieutenant general (r) Farooq Ahmad Khan.
Authorities downplayed the possibility of a flood, saying the barrier
is unlikely to rupture, though the water may rise enough to overflow
it by June.
“It is of the utmost importance to monitor developments and have an
evacuation plan for communities downriver, and other emergency
assistance measures ready for immediate implementation should the dam
fail suddenly and quickly,” Kenneth Hewitt, a professor emeritus in
the geography and environmental studies department at Wilfrid Laurier
University in Canada.
“My mother says that when they wake up the first thing they ask about
is the water level,” said Adil Gulmit, a 21-year-old from the Gojal
area in the north who is studying commerce in Lahore.
“My father told me that this year we will not be able to cultivate
potatoes because there’s no seed or fertilizer available,” he added,
because the area is cut off. The government said it has sent in tents,
blankets, jackets and tons of food.
“There are no shortages in the villages affected by the disaster,”
said Anwar Jamal, a magistrate supervising relief work. “We are
transporting 200 bags of flour daily to the villages cut off by the
calamity, beside medicines and other items of daily use.” ap
On Mar 17, 2:41 pm, momers <mom...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Please vote for the issue here:http://code.google.com/p/google-mapmaker/issues/detail?id=616
>
> Mapmaker link for the location:http://www.google.com/mapmaker?hl=en&q=atabad&gw=30&ll=36.313223,74.8...
Map Maker Team, please consider this to forward further to imagery
team as availability of new imagery will facilitate the NGOs and other
relief workers to look at the recent situation while seeking a better
strategy to cope with this situation.
Cheers
Regards,
جabran
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Regards,
Map Maker Guide.
At least they can add it to their To Do agenda?
It is after all a very interesting geological/geographic event
event...and would have scientific importance too.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=43175&src=imgrss
Google, now you have a nice relationship going on with NASA, i'm sure
this imagery set can be acquired, and ported to GE??!
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> > > > > .
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Meanwhile, i guess time to get in touch with locals or experts on the
region...
> ...
>
> read more »
Regards,
جabran
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calamity, beside medicines and other items of daily use.” ap
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