Over the past 48 hours, relentless monsoon rains have unleashed flash floods across northwest Pakistan, leaving a trail of destruction and heartbreak. The country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported at least 344 lives lost so far, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bearing the brunt of the disaster. 😢🌧️
Flash floods accounted for 90.6% of the fatalities, while collapsing rooftops caused another 6.4%. Lightning strikes also played a deadly role in the chaos, sweeping away homes, roads, and farmlands in 11 KP districts.
Rescue 1122 KP spokesperson Bilal Faizi told Xinhua that teams are racing to pull survivors from rubble and recover bodies from the rising waters. Dozens remain trapped or unaccounted for, as rescue crews work around the clock.
Since June's monsoon season began, Pakistan has recorded 634 rain-related deaths and more than 700 injuries, with 1,887 houses collapsing nationwide. Beyond KP's 378 fatalities, eastern Punjab saw 164 deaths, while Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan reported 28 and 24 deaths, respectively. Other provinces and Islamabad account for the remainder.
Authorities warn that more heavy rains are on the way, urging communities to stay alert and support each other through this crisis. 🌊🤝
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
