On October 25, a two-kilometer-long chunk of ice broke off the Ismoil Somoni Glacier in eastern Tajikistan, roaring down a gorge for nearly three hours before finally coming to a halt. It’s attached to the 7,495m mountain of that name, formerly known as Communism Peak. It is the highest peak in Tajikistan.
Indian climber Anurag Maloo, who nearly died after falling into a crevasse on Annapurna in 2023, shared footage of the collapse to raise awareness of melting glaciers. Following his near-death experience, Maloo launched The Voice of Glaciers initiative. After spending three days trapped and praying for rescue, he came to see the Annapurna Glacier as a form of protection rather than something trapping him.
Earlier this week, the churning mass of ice, approximately 200m wide and 25m high, created a deafening sound as it tore through the valley. It stopped just four kilometers from the nearest village, Safedob. There were no casualties. However, scientists are warning nearby communities that heavy rain could cause more of the glacier to collapse, potentially triggering floods and landslides.
Authorities are particularly concerned about the nearby Gulrez area, a farming region. Emergency services have been placed on high alert and continue to monitor the glacier closely for signs of further instability.
Tajikistan has nearly 14,000 glaciers, and Ismoil Somoni is one of the largest in the country. Over the past three decades, these glaciers have been melting at an alarming rate; more than 1,000 have completely disappeared due to climate change.
Experts warn that events like this could become increasingly common in the Pamirs, which could be disastrous for people in Central Asia. The glaciers of the Pamirs feed into the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. Both are crucial sources of water in this desert region.
