Pakistan officials said on Sunday (August 17) that continuous heavy rains in the western mountainous region have led to floods and landslides, resulting in at least 344 deaths and over 150 people missing. The meteorological department forecasts ongoing rainfall in the region over the next few days, possibly worsening the situation.
The National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan stated on Sunday that the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the hardest hit, with the Buner district in the province suffering the most, with at least 208 fatalities.
Asfandyar Khattak, the Director of the Disaster Management Authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, mentioned in a press conference, “In Buner, at least 150 people are still missing. They may be trapped under the rubble of their homes or swept away by floods. Dozens are also reported missing in the neighboring Shangla region.”
Khattak pointed out that the ongoing rainfall has made rescue efforts extremely challenging. Due to damages to power lines and mobile signal towers in flash floods, there is currently no electricity or mobile phone signal in the Buner district.
A spokesperson for the provincial rescue department told AFP that “10 to 12 villages” in the Buner district have been partially buried, and rescue operations are underway. However, the chances of finding survivors under the debris are very slim.
President of Pakistan, Zardari, expressed condolences to the victims and stated that the government is taking all necessary measures to assist the affected population.
Pakistan experiences heavy monsoon rains from July to September every year. According to the latest data from the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan, since the onset of the rainy season in June this year, various disasters caused by heavy rains have resulted in at least 657 fatalities and 929 injuries nationwide.