PESHAWAR: At least seven people were killed and 33 injured in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after multiple houses collapsed due to heavy rainfall and strong winds, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said.
Pakistan, one of the countries most affected by climate change, has experienced heavy rainfall, flash floods, heatwaves, droughts, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) that have caused widespread destruction in recent years.
The PDMA said losses and damage were reported in Bannu, Shangla, and Mansehra districts due to rainfall, strong winds and lightning across the province over the past 24 hours.
“Due to the rains and strong winds in the province, roof and wall collapses of houses have so far resulted in seven deaths and 33 injuries,” the PDMA said in its report on Sunday.
“Among the total deceased are two children, four men, and a woman, while the injured include seven men, 12 women, and 14 children.”
It said Rescue 1122 and district administration officials were continuing rescue operations, adding that it had directed the provision of relief goods to the victims at the earliest.
The PDMA has advised the public to stay away from sensitive tourist areas and avoid unnecessary travel.
Five persons were killed and 23 injured in several rain-related incidents in Pakistan’s Punjab province this week. At least 1,000 people were killed last year when intense monsoon rains, combined with excess water released from Indian dams, triggered flash floods across the country.
