Hundreds Dead as Devastating Rainfall Triggers Heavy Flood, Ravages Communities
- Nearly 400 people have been killed in Pakistan after days of relentless monsoon rains triggered floods and landslides across the country
- Rescue workers, backed by army troops and volunteers, are racing to find survivors in cut-off villages where homes and infrastructure have collapsed
- Authorities warn the downpours will continue, with major cities like Karachi now facing the threat of urban flooding
Search and rescue efforts are underway across northern Pakistan after five consecutive days of heavy monsoon rains left widespread devastation and nearly 400 people dead.
Authorities have warned that the downpours will continue through the weekend, raising fears of further damage and displacement.
Source: Original
365 reported dead after flood
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that 356 deaths occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone, where landslides and flash floods swept through villages, leaving residents stranded and dozens unaccounted for.
Additional casualties have been confirmed in neighbouring regions, bringing the toll since Thursday evening to close to 400.
Rescue workers, joined by army units and volunteers, continue to dig through mud and debris in Dalori village and other hard-hit areas in hopes of finding survivors. Efforts were briefly halted when another round of rainfall worsened conditions.
Witnesses described heartbreaking scenes as families watched recovery teams pull bodies from collapsed homes.
Among the victims was the father of Umar Islam, a 31-year-old labourer who struggled to recount his loss. “Our misery is beyond explanation,” he said.
“In a matter of minutes, we lost everything we had. Our lives are ruined.”
Another villager, Fazal Akbar, described the destruction as “terrifying,” recalling how mosque loudspeakers warned residents as the floodwaters surged. “In less than 20 minutes, our village was reduced to ruins,” he said.
Rescue efforts complicated due to damaged network
Blocked roads and damaged communication lines have complicated relief operations. Many remote areas remain cut off, and helicopters have been deployed to deliver aid and evacuate the injured.
The NDMA noted that heavy rainfall is now hitting southern parts of the country as well, threatening major cities that have so far avoided the worst of the flooding.
Source: Facebook
In Sindh province, chief meteorologist Amir Hyder Laghari warned of possible urban flooding in Karachi due to inadequate drainage infrastructure. Several neighbourhoods in the city have already experienced blackouts and submerged streets, leaving commuters stranded during rush hour.
The rains have also affected 15 districts in Balochistan province, where highways linking it to Sindh were closed to heavy traffic. Local officials confirmed damage to dozens of houses and warned that recovery could take weeks.
NDMA chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said another spell of rainfall is expected before the end of the month, compounding the ongoing disaster.
Since late June, Pakistan’s monsoon season has killed more than 700 people and injured close to 1,000. Experts note that the country, among the most vulnerable to climate change, faces increasingly destructive weather patterns. In 2022, catastrophic monsoon floods submerged one-third of the nation and killed about 1,700 people.
Tinubu visits Maiduguri over flood disaster
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu had visited Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, to share his sympathy and condolences with the government and people of the state over the recent flood disaster.
The president is reported to be planning an on-the-spot assessment of the effect of the flood disaster, which consumed over 80 per cent of the capital's major cities.
According to the video of his visit, Tinubu was received by Governor Babagana Zulum and other government officials in the state.
Source: Legit.ng
