Heavy monsoon rains have caused flash floods across northern Pakistan, killing at least 320 people in the past 48 hours, according to disaster management authorities.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province suffered the most, with 307 deaths, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority reported. Nine people died in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and five in Gilgit-Baltistan. Most casualties resulted from collapsing houses and flash floods, while 21 people were injured.
The meteorological department has issued a heavy rain warning for northwest Pakistan and urged residents to take precautionary measures.
Rescue teams continue searching for survivors in Buner, a mountainous district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Torrential rains and sudden cloudbursts on Friday caused severe flooding, sweeping away dozens of homes, said Mohammad Suhail, a spokesperson for the emergency services.
Authorities say flash floods have killed at least 633 people in northern Pakistan this week.
Experts note that such cloudbursts are becoming more frequent in northern Pakistan and India’s Himalayan regions. They warn that climate change is likely contributing to the increase.
