KARACHI: King Charles III of the United Kingdom sent a message of sympathy to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, expressing sorrow over the human loss and devastation caused by monsoon rains in Pakistan, as the nationwide death toll climbed to 750 since the season began.
The message came amid one of Pakistan’s deadliest monsoon seasons in recent years, marked by erratic and increasingly intense weather patterns scientists attribute to global climate change. Annual rains are vital for agriculture and rural livelihoods, but rising temperatures have triggered more frequent and destructive flooding across South Asia.
While the rains began in Pakistan earlier than usual on June 26, they intensified sharply on August 15 with powerful cloudbursts in northern Pakistan. Flash floods, landslides and collapsing homes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone have killed more than 380 people in under a week.
According to a situation report released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Wednesday, 43 people were killed in the past 24 hours alone due to rain-related incidents across the country.
“The scale of devastation caused by this flooding is truly heart-breaking,” King Charles said in the message, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. “We feel for all those who have lost their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.”
“With so many families in the UK maintaining close ties with Pakistan, we extend our heartfelt sympathy to them as well,” he added. “We stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan during this most difficult time.”
The king also praised the efforts of emergency responders, volunteers, and local communities working to rescue and support those affected, calling their courage “a candle in the darkness.”
He extended special prayers and appreciation for the resilience of the flood-hit communities as they faced recovery and rebuilding challenges.
The monsoon crisis in Pakistan is not confined to the north.
The country’s commercial hub Karachi was lashed by rain for a second straight day on Wednesday, inundating roads and bringing much of the city to a standstill.
Local officials said 17 people were killed, mostly by electrocution and related accidents.
