Over the last 48 hours, torrential monsoon rains and flash floods have devastated northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing at least 344 people, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported on Saturday.
Flash floods were responsible for 90.6 percent of the fatalities, while roof collapses caused 6.4 percent of deaths, NDMA data shows. Rescue 1122 KP spokesperson Bilal Faizi told Xinhua that dozens remain trapped under debris and many have been swept away by surging waters.
Since the monsoon season began in June, the NDMA says 634 people have lost their lives nationwide and over 700 have been injured. More than 1,887 houses have collapsed in rain-related incidents across Pakistan.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the hardest hit, registering 378 deaths, followed by 164 in Punjab, 28 in Sindh and 24 in Gilgit-Baltistan. The remaining fatalities were reported in other provinces and Islamabad.
Rescue teams and volunteers are racing against time, using boats and drones to locate survivors and deliver emergency supplies. However, damaged roads and widespread debris have complicated relief efforts across 11 districts in the province.
As climate models predict heavier monsoon dynamics in South Asia, local authorities and international organizations are calling for strengthened early-warning systems and resilient infrastructure to reduce future disaster risks.
For a region that relies on agriculture, these floods pose a serious threat to food security and livelihoods. Aid agencies are urging communities to prepare for further rains and to support long-term recovery by investing in sustainable land and water management practices.
The situation remains urgent as rescue operations continue across the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
