Hundreds dead in flash floods in Pakistan

Heavy monsoon rains have triggered severe flash floods and landslides in northern Pakistan . According to authorities, more than 300 people have been killed. Numerous homes have been destroyed. The mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been particularly affected, with around 211 people dead there alone, according to the disaster management agency.

The provincial government has declared several regions—including Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and Battagram—as disaster areas. The full extent of the destruction is not yet fully known.

Rescue work under difficult conditions

According to the Khyber Paktunkhwa Rescue Authority, around 2,000 rescue workers are deployed to rescue victims and bring aid to the affected regions. However, rescue efforts are proving difficult: "Heavy rains, landslides in several areas, and washed-out roads are significantly hampering relief efforts, especially the transport of heavy equipment and ambulances," said Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesperson for the authority. Many emergency workers have to reach remote areas on foot because access roads are blocked, Faizi added.

A helicopter mission to supply affected regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in a fatal accident. Five crew members, including two pilots, were killed. According to Prime Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the helicopter crashed due to bad weather.

Since Thursday, Pakistani authorities say they have also evacuated more than 3,500 tourists from the flooded areas. Many of them ignored government warnings to avoid the affected regions in the north and northwest.

Severe flash floods also occurred in the neighboring Indian region of Kashmir. In the Himalayan village of Chisoti, at least 60 people were killed, according to official figures. Another 80 are missing , a local disaster management official told the AFP news agency.

Climate change intensifies monsoon season

Flash floods and landslides are common in Pakistan and India during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and ends in late September. However, experts classified this summer's monsoon as "unusual." Since the monsoon rains began in late June, at least 634 people have been killed and over 760 injured nationwide, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Experts say climate change is causing severe weather events around the world to become more extreme and more frequent. According to the United Nations, Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by the consequences of climate change. Hundreds of people die every year from climate-related disasters, and many lose their homes and livelihoods.

ch/pgr (afp, AP, dpa)