Residents in Juneau, Alaska’s capital, were issued a warning on Monday to steer clear of the Mendenhall River following devastating flooding from a glacier that resulted in the destruction of two buildings and erosion of riverbanks over the weekend. As a result, local officials declared a state of emergency.
The flooding was caused by water released from Suicide Basin, an ice-covered depression near the Mendenhall Glacier, located approximately 13 miles from the city. Although floodwaters have been receding since the incident, authorities have advised residents to avoid the river banks due to persisting hazards.
While the threat of flooding has diminished, the National Weather Service stressed the importance of adhering to the remaining road closures and staying away from the unstable river banks. The service emphasized that dangers still exist in and around the Mendenhall River.
According to Juneau’s Engineering and Public Works Department, water levels reached a peak of 14.97 feet on Saturday night, surpassing the previous record of 11.99 feet set in 2016. As a consequence, two buildings collapsed into the river, three wastewater pumping stations were submerged, and multiple fuel tanks were swept away. Videos shared on social media depicted the gradual collapse of one building into the water as the riverbank eroded. Eight damaged structures have since been condemned by local officials. Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries have been reported.
The thinning Mendenhall Glacier has experienced annual episodes of torrential water flows, known as jokulhlaup, during the summer for over a decade. This recurring phenomenon has posed a threat to properties and homes along the Mendenhall River. The recent glacial outburst is just one of the incidents that have occurred as a result.
The water buildup in Suicide Basin gradually lifts sections of the glacier, eventually leading to a release of water under the pressure exerted by the overlying ice. Consequently, the water bursts into Mendenhall Lake and subsequently flows into the river.
The World Wildlife Fund reveals that many glaciers have been melting since the 1900s, and a United Nations report states that several of the world’s most visited glaciers could disappear by 2050 due to climate change. This situation is exemplified by Africa’s remaining glaciers in Kilimanjaro National Park and on Mount Kenya. Alaskan residents are well-acquainted with melting glaciers and climate change. The state’s Department of Natural Resources asserts that Alaska’s glaciers are rapidly declining, making them among the fastest melting glaciers globally. Additionally, researchers have highlighted that the Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average.
The recent glacial outbursts in Juneau are particularly concerning due to the glacier’s close proximity to human settlements. The Mendenhall Glacier, spanning approximately 12 miles, draws tourists and is located within an urban area, attracting visitors arriving on cruise ships at the Port of Juneau.
What distinguishes last weekend’s flooding is the unprecedented intensity of the water release. Eran Hood, an environmental science professor at the University of Alaska Southeast, described the release as far surpassing the river’s capacity to withstand. Typically, water is released gradually over several days, but in this case, the flow was overwhelmingly powerful.
Overall, the incident in Juneau serves as a reminder of the grave implications of melting glaciers and climate change, as well as the potential risks faced by communities in close proximity to these natural phenomena.
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