In north-west Pakistan, over 200 individuals are currently reported missing following severe monsoon flooding and landslides, according to local officials. The recent flash floods have resulted in more than 300 fatalities across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with a significant number of these deaths occurring in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
In the notably affected Buner district, a local official has indicated that at least 209 people remain unaccounted for, with concerns that this figure may increase as rescue operations continue. Rescue teams have reportedly buried eight unidentified bodies, as there were no family members present to claim them. Additionally, damaged roadways have hindered relatives from retrieving the bodies of their loved ones.
A rescue official noted that “10 to 12 entire villages” have sustained partial burial due to the floods. The head of the provincial disaster management authority highlighted that numerous individuals are also missing in the nearby Shangla district. Monsoon rains, which typically occur from June to September, contribute approximately three-quarters of South Asia’s annual rainfall. These climatic conditions often lead to landslides and flash floods, and experts suggest that climate change could be intensifying the frequency and severity of such events.
The situation has also impacted Indian-administered Kashmir, where flash floods recently led to at least 60 deaths. In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, nine fatalities were reported this week, and five more occurred in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. Government forecasts indicate that heavy rainfall is anticipated to continue until August 21 in the north-western region, where several areas have been declared disaster zones.
This year’s monsoon season, which has been catastrophic, has already claimed at least 650 lives since June. In Punjab, rainfall levels in July were reported to be 73% higher than the previous year’s figures, resulting in significant fatalities compared to those recorded in the prior monsoon season. The region’s glaciers are receding due to climate change, contributing to increased landslide risks that may disrupt local water systems. While the precise causes behind the recent floods and landslides are still under investigation, experts point out that ice melt is likely a contributing factor.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8jp3y04jeyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss