Severe monsoon rainfall has triggered landslides and flash floods throughout northern Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 243 individuals within the last 24 hours. This includes 157 fatalities in the flood-affected Buner district of northwest Pakistan on Friday.
Mohammad Suhail informed The Associated Press that numerous individuals remain unaccounted for, and rescue efforts are currently in progress.
He reported that by midday Friday, 78 bodies had been retrieved from various locations within the district, with an additional 79 recovered from the debris of collapsed homes and inundated villages later on.
“The death toll may increase as we continue to search for many missing individuals,” Suhail stated.
Many individuals sustained injuries as the floodwaters devastated homes in Buner’s villages, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency on Friday. According to a government announcement, ambulances have transported over 100 bodies to medical facilities.
Officials indicated that numerous victims perished either in flash floods or as their residences collapsed. Additionally, a helicopter crashed during a rescue operation in the monsoon-affected northern region of Pakistan on Friday, resulting in the deaths of five crew members, as reported by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
“An MI-17 helicopter belonging to the provincial government, which was delivering relief supplies to rain-impacted areas of Bajaur, crashed in the Pandiyali region of Mohmand district due to adverse weather conditions,” Ali Amin Gandapur stated. “Five crew members, including two pilots, lost their lives.”
Rescue teams, supported by boats and helicopters, are striving to reach residents who are stranded. Many villagers remain unaccounted for, and the death toll is expected to rise, according to Buner government administrator Kashif Qayyum.
The most recent fatalities have raised the total number of rain-related deaths to 556 since June 26, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority.
On Thursday, various regions of Pakistan reported fatalities. Bilal Faizi, a spokesperson for the provincial emergency service in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, indicated that rescuers labored for several hours to assist 1,300 tourists who became trapped due to flash floods and landslides in the Siran Valley, located in the Mansehra district, on the same day.
During an emergency meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the disaster management authority to facilitate the evacuation of tourists and all individuals affected by the floods.
The Gilgit-Baltistan area has experienced a series of floods since July, resulting in landslides along the Karakoram Highway, which serves as a vital trade and travel corridor connecting Pakistan and China, frequently utilized by tourists visiting the picturesque northern regions. This area is renowned for its stunning glaciers, which account for 75% of Pakistan’s stored water resources.
A report published this week by World Weather Attribution, a consortium of international scientists, revealed that rainfall in Pakistan from June 24 to July 23 was 10% to 15% more intense due to global warming. In 2022, the country faced its most devastating monsoon season on record, resulting in over 1,700 fatalities and approximately $40 billion in damages.
