More than 350 killed in monsoon flooding in Pakistan, emergency officials say
A deluge of rain triggered floods and landslides, officials said.
Over 350 people have died in a 72 hour period in Pakistan due to monsoon flooding, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority reported, bringing the total number of people killed to over 650 since June 26.
Over 180 others were reported injured, and rescue efforts are ongoing after heavy rains halted operations for several hours on Monday, according to Reuters.
A deluge of rain triggered floods and landslides, sweeping people away and flooding and destroying homes, officials said.
Updates from the National Disaster Management Authority indicated that the majority of deaths were caused by the flash floods, while smaller percentages were caused by houses collapsing and lightning. Deaths were concentrated in the mountainous northern region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
"My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in this hour of grief," wrote Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on X. "The Government is mobilising all resources for rescue and relief operations."
But some residents reportedly said they feel the government is not providing enough support in the aftermath of the floods.
"We're poor people here, and nine feet of water flooded our homes. People have suffered huge losses – everything, even basic utensils," Mohammad Shabbir, a garment factory owner in Rawalpindi, told Reuters last month. "No one from the government has checked on us or offered help. They didn't even show sympathy. It's like we're invisible."
Other residents echoed his sentiment. "The authorities haven't lifted a finger. They visit briefly in big vehicles, take note, and leave, while we, the most vulnerable, are left to fend for ourselves," Rawalpindi resident Shehbaz Ali told Reuters.
The Pakistani government stated in a news conference that it had sufficient resources for recovery efforts and does not require foreign assistance at this time, reported the Associated Press.
In 2022, devastating floods in Pakistan left a third of the country submerged, about 15,000 dead or injured, and 8 million displaced, according to the United Nations Development Programme.
Pakistan faces some of the highest disaster risk levels in the world in part due to high exposure to flooding and tropical cyclones, according to the World Bank.
A 2022 study from World Weather Attribution concluded that climate change likely increased extreme monsoon rainfall.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, Pakistanis affected by the flooding are attempting to rebuild their lives and homes. "Those with means might be able to bear the loss, but we can't," said Shabbir. "We're just struggling to survive."
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