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PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Nearly a week of heavy monsoon rains
and flash floods across Pakistan have killed at least 46 people
and injured dozens as continuing severe weather similar to past
emergenicies remains possible, officials said Monday.
The fatalities caused by abnormally strong downpours since
Tuesday include 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 13 in eastern Punjab
province, seven in southern Sindh and four in southwestern
Balochistan, National Disaster Management Authority and
provincial emergency officials said.
“We are expecting above-normal rains during the monsoon season
and alerts have been issued to the concerned authorities to take
precautionary measures,” said Irfan Virk, a Pakistan
Meteorological Department deputy director.
Virk warned forecasters cannot rule out a repeat of the “extreme
situation” seen during devastating floods in 2022. Rains
inundated a third of the country, killing 1,737 people and
causing widespread destruction.
The deaths from the past week include 13 tourists from a family
of 17 who were swept away Friday. The other four family members
were rescued from the flooded Swat River in the northwestern
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Rescuers found 12 bodies from the group and divers continued
searching Monday for the remaining victim, said Bilal Faizi, a
provincial emergency service spokesman.
The incident drew widespread condemnation online over what many
called a slow response by emergency services.
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