Around 2,000 rescue workers are searching for bodies in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province following flash floods and collapsed buildings over the past 48 hours, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said today. The heavy rains, landslides, and damaged roads have created significant challenges, especially for transporting heavy machinery and ambulances, according to Bilal Ahmed Faizi, a spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rescue service.

In addition to the 344 fatalities, at least 137 people were injured when flash floods hit areas across 9 districts of the province. Rescue workers have had to travel on foot to reach devastated areas in remote regions. “They are working to evacuate survivors, but few want to leave because their relatives have died or are still trapped,” Faizi added.

“I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was moving. The ground was shaking from the force of the water and I felt death was near,” said Azizullah, a resident of Buner district, where dozens were killed and injured, describing the moment the flood hit.

Abdul Hayat said his daughter's entire dowry, worth about 500,000 rupees (1,760 USD), was washed away. “We don’t even have clothes to wear and all our food is gone,” he said.

Others used shovels to clear mud and debris. According to resident Abdul Khan, many victims remain under the rubble, while search efforts are also underway downstream to find those swept away by the floodwaters.

Houses, roads, and vehicles destroyed by flooding in Mingora city, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on 16/8. Photo: AFP

The meteorological office has issued heavy rain warnings for northwestern Pakistan, urging residents to take “precautionary measures.” This year’s monsoon season arrived earlier than usual with torrential downpours and is expected to end later, according to Syed Muhammad Tayyab Shah of the NDMA. Landslides and flash floods are common during this period, typically beginning in early June and subsiding by late September.

Raging floodwaters in Buner district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on 15/8. Video: X/Weather Monitor

Since the start of this monsoon season, Pakistan has recorded over 650 deaths and more than 905 injuries. Flooding during the 2022 monsoon season submerged one-third of the country and killed about 1,700 people.

Huyen Le (According to AFP)