State of Emergency Declared in Alaska After Glacier Dam Collapse (Video)

Officials in Juneau, Alaska, have declared a state of emergency following the collapse of a glacier dam near the city, which destroyed buildings. The National Weather Service (NWS) received reports of large trees falling in the Mendenhall River near Juneau on Saturday night as water levels rose, leading to bank erosion. Glacial outburst floods occur when trapped water breaks through cracks in glacial dams, a phenomenon that has increased due to climate change. Water levels in Mendenhall Lake reached nearly 15 feet (4.6 m) early yesterday morning, up 3 feet from the previous record set in 2016, and 5 feet above moderate flood levels. According to the NWS, water levels are quickly receding on the Mendenhall River in Alaska, but the flood warning remains in effect until 10 AM local time.