ISLAMABAD: The death toll from rain-related incidents since the onset of monsoon season has killed at least 728 people in Pakistan, disaster management authorities said on Saturday, as more flash floods are expected in the coming days.
Monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Pakistan since June 14, with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) recording 36 new casualties in the past 24 hours.
The highest number of the fatalities, 207, has been reported in Balochistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has recorded 149 deaths, Punjab 151 and Sindh 177.
Many of the fatalities were a result of poorly constructed homes collapsing during heavy rain, storms, and floods. Over 31,000 homes have been destroyed and nearly 86,000 damaged, displacing tens of thousands of people, according to the latest NDMA data.
A new monsoon spell is forecast to hit southern and northern parts of the country next week.
“A fresh Strong Monsoon activity is likely to start over Sindh, Balochistan and Southern Punjab along with DI Khan Division from 23 rd to 26th August, 2022,” NDMA said in a notification on Saturday.
People wade through a flooded street following heavy monsoon rains in Hyderabad on August 18, 2022. (AFP)
From Sunday, new flash floods are likely to hit parts of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
“Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) has forecasted that Moderate Flash Flooding is expected in the Rivers / Nullahs of Eastern Balochistan during next 24 hours and heavy after 24 hours. Medium to High Level Flooding is expected in Rivers Kabul at Nowshera & Tributaries of Rivers Kabul & Indus from 20-22 August 2022. Low to Medium Level Flooding is likely in the Hill Torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan Division during next 24 hours, while High Level and Above Flooding after 24 hours.”
Government agencies and the army have set up aid and relief camps in flood-hit regions and are working to help relocate families and provide food and medicine.
Pakistan is ranked eighth among counties most vulnerable to climate change-related disasters despite contributing less than 1 percent to global carbon emissions, according to the Climate Change Risk Index 2021.
The past month was the wettest the country has witnessed in three decades, with 133 percent more rain than the average for the past 30 years.
