Flash floods wreak havoc in northern Pakistan

Rescuers successful bluish Pakistan person pulled dozens of bodies overnight from homes ravaged by landslides and flash floods, taking the decease toll to astatine slightest 321 successful the past 2 days, according to catastrophe agencies.

Hundreds of rescue workers proceed to hunt for survivors successful the Buner territory of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state successful northwest Pakistan aft torrential rains and cloudbursts caused monolithic flooding connected Friday, washing distant dozens of homes, according to the provincial Disaster Management Authority.

First responders are focusing betterment efforts successful the villages of Pir Baba and Malik Pura, which suffered the highest casualties connected Friday, according to Bunar lawman commissioner Kashif Qayyum.

“We bash not cognize from wherever the floodwater came, but it came truthful accelerated that galore could not permission their homes,” said Mohammad Khan, 53, a Pir Baba resident.

Dr Mohammad Tariq astatine a Buner authorities infirmary reported that astir victims died earlier reaching aesculapian care. “Many among the dormant were children and men, portion women were distant successful the hills collecting firewood and grazing cattle,” helium said.

At slightest 307 casualties are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Above-average rainfall successful Pakistan, which experts property to clime change, has triggered floods and mudslides that person killed astir 541 radical since June 2, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

In neighbouring Indian-administered Kashmir, floods person killed dozens and displaced hundreds successful caller days.

Experts enactment that cloudbursts person go progressively communal successful India’s Himalayan regions and Pakistan’s bluish areas, with clime alteration being a important contributing factor.

Pakistani officials study that since Thursday, rescuers person evacuated much than 3,500 tourists stranded successful flood-affected areas nationwide, though galore tourists proceed to disregard authorities warnings to debar these regions contempt the hazard of further landslides and flash floods.

In 2022, Pakistan experienced its worst monsoon play connected record, sidesplitting much than 1,700 radical and causing astir $40bn successful damage.