Rescuers are searching for greater than 150 individuals who have been nonetheless lacking on Monday in northwestern Pakistan, which was devastated by landslides and flash floods on Friday.
Torrential rains triggered the flash meals killing at least 344 people and destroying lots of of properties.
A lot of the deaths – 317 – have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the place monsoon rains, anticipated solely to accentuate within the days forward, have pushed flooding and landslides that collapsed homes.
Greater than 150 persons are lacking in Buner, the place not less than 208 have been killed and “10 to 12 complete villages” have been partially buried, in line with authorities.
“They might be trapped underneath the rubble of their properties, or swept away by floodwaters,” mentioned Asfandyar Khattak, head of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Catastrophe Administration Authority.
“Individually, in Shangla district, dozens of persons are additionally reported lacking,” Khattak added.
The spokesman for the province’s rescue company mentioned about 2,000 rescue staff are concerned throughout 9 districts, the place rain continues to be hampering efforts.
“The operation to rescue individuals trapped underneath particles is ongoing,” mentioned Bilal Ahmad Faizi.
“The probabilities of these buried underneath the particles surviving are very slim,” he added.
After days with out energy, the electrical energy provide was restored on Sunday afternoon.
Flooded roads hampered the motion of rescue autos, as a number of villagers labored to chop fallen timber to clear the best way after the water receded.
The provincial authorities has declared the severely affected mountainous districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and Battagram as disaster-hit areas.
On Saturday, lots of gathered for mass funerals, the place our bodies wrapped in blood-stained white shawls have been laid out on the village floor.
Iran mentioned it stood prepared to offer “any cooperation and help aimed toward assuaging the struggling” in neighbouring Pakistan, whereas Pope Leo XIV addressed the flooding with prayers “for all those that endure due to this calamity”.
The monsoon season brings South Asia about three-quarters of its annual rainfall – very important for agriculture and meals provision – but additionally brings destruction.
“The depth of this yr’s monsoon is about 50 to 60 % greater than final yr,” mentioned Lieutenant Normal Inam Haider, chairman of the nationwide catastrophe company.
“Two to a few extra monsoon spells are anticipated till the primary weeks of September,” he instructed journalists in Islamabad.
Landslides and flash floods are frequent in the course of the season, which normally begins in June and eases by the top of September.
The torrential rains which have pounded Pakistan for the reason that begin of the summer time monsoon have killed greater than 650 individuals, with greater than 920 injured.
Pakistan is likely one of the world’s most susceptible nations to the results of local weather change, and is contending with excessive climate occasions with growing frequency.
