The capital of the US state of Alaska, Juneau, is facing flooding due to water breaking through the melting Mendenhall Glacier, American media reported on Wednesday.
The long-awaited flood caused by the melting glacier is hitting the Alaskan capital. The peak is expected to occur on Wednesday and reach 16.6 feet, likely setting a record and causing more damage than last year, when more than 290 homes were damaged.
The Mendenhall Glacier is located 19 km from Juneau and is almost 20 km long. On Sunday, experts discovered that the water in the glacier lake had begun to exceed the level of the ice dam. Local authorities urged residents of nearby areas to evacuate.
“There is no need to leave the area immediately, but we urge people to stop, take a deep breath and remember that they have a plan…Gather your belongings, tell your family and friends where you are going, and then take action,” Ryan O’Shaughnessy, director of emergency management for the Juneau area, said.
On Monday, Alaska Governor Mike Dunlap declared a state of emergency due to the “imminent threat of catastrophic flooding.” He explained the decision to declare a state of emergency as necessary to “pre-position state resources and personnel to support local authorities and indigenous governments in their efforts to protect the public.”
In addition to the looming threat of flooding, Alaskans are also concerned about another natural phenomenon: a cloud of ash formed by the eruption of the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka. As a result, on August 13, Alaska Airlines had to cancel five flights to destinations in the western part of the state.
On August 15, a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will take place in Alaska. It has been decided to hold the meeting in the city of Anchorage, at a military base.
