On July 8, 1998, a catastrophic glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurred in the Shakhimardan catchment, Kyrgyzstan, causing over 100 fatalities, mostly in Uzbekistan. Political tensions delayed disaster assessment. Using remote sensing, researchers found that the lake responsible for the flood formed in the 1960s, drained periodically, and disappeared in the 1980s. By 1998, a new lake had formed, driven by rising temperatures and snowmelt. The GLOF traveled 17 km as a debris flow and 20 km as a debris flood, eventually continuing downstream for ~100 km. Currently, 32 lakes in the catchment, some unstable, highlight the urgent need for monitoring, early warning systems, and improved data exchange between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
