PESHAWAR: Nine Chinese workers were among 13 people killed on Wednesday when a blast on a bus sent it careening down a ravine in north-western Pakistan, officials said.
The bus was carrying Chinese engineers, surveyors and mechanical staff to the Dasu dam site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is under construction.
“The blast sparked a fire in the engine plunging the vehicle into a ravine, a local government official told AFP, requesting not be named.
He said a further 28 Chinese nationals were injured.
A senior local police official, who also asked not to be named, confirmed the incident and said “it was a heavy blast but its nature is not known yet.”
The Chinese embassy in Pakistan posted a statement on Wednesday, saying that “a certain project of a Chinese firm in Pakistan suffered an attack, which caused the deaths of Chinese nationals.”
It urged Chinese firms to strengthen their security procedures.
Security of Chinese workers has long been an issue of concern in Pakistan, where Beijing has poured in tens of billions of dollars in recent years, and large numbers of Chinese nationals are now based in the country to supervise and build infrastructure projects.
13 killed, including 9 Chinese nationals, in Pakistan bus blast — officials
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13 killed, including 9 Chinese nationals, in Pakistan bus blast — officials
- Bus was carrying Chinese engineers, surveyors and mechanical staff to Dasu dam site in northwest
- Security of Chinese workers has long been an issue of concern in Pakistan
Rescuers evacuate dozens to safety amid heavy snowfall in northwest Pakistan
- Khyber, Swat and South Waziristan are areas worst affected by snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Authorities say rescue operations ongoing, process of clearing roads underway in affected areas
ISLAMABAD: Rescuers evacuated dozens of stranded residents to safety as heavy snowfall blanketed several mountainous districts, blocked roads and cut off villages in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, authorities said on Friday.
Rescue 1122 teams are operating in different areas of Tirah valley in KP’s Khyber district and shifted over 40 people, including children, to safe locations. The evacuees were provided with food, warm clothes and bedding, according to Rescue 1122 spokesman Bilal Faizi.
Around 55 people, who had been stranded in 20 vehicles in Sandana area, were rescued. Rescue 1122 teams from Peshawar, Swabi and Nowshera are participating in rescue operations, which continue despite difficulties due to slippery roads and heavy snow.
“People are stranded at various places due to heavy snowfall,” KP government spokesman Shafi Jan said in a statement. “Contact with some areas is not possible due to the suspension of [mobile] signals and road closures, however, rescue operations are ongoing.”
Separately, several people were stranded in four vehicles in Bahrain area of KP’s Swat, according to Rescue 1122.
“As soon as the information was received, the rescue disaster and medical teams immediately reached the scene,” the rescue service said. “The rescue personnel, taking professional action, safely shifted all the people to a safe place and also safely recovered the stranded vehicles.”
The process of clearing snow from the Malam Jabba Road, Kalam and other areas was being carried out, according to local authorities. Heavy snowfall has disrupted traffic on several roads in South Waziristan’s Ladha town as well.
Provincial authorities have not yet reported any loss of life.
Snowstorms have proven deadly in Pakistan in the past. At least 21 people, including children, died in January 2022 after they were stuck in freezing temperatures during a snowstorm in the Pakistani hill station of Murree.
Tens of thousands of tourists flock to Pakistan’s scenic areas in northwestern KP to witness snowfall every winter, often neglecting warnings from disaster management authorities amid dangerous weather conditions.
