In the northwestern region of Pakistan, sudden heavy rains have caused flooding, resulting in numerous casualties. The reported death toll so far is around 340, and it is expected to rise further.
On the 17th (local time), Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority reported that at least 344 people have died and 137 have been injured due to heavy rains in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province's Buner area. The majority are believed to have died due to sudden flooding and building collapses.
Earlier, on the 15th, sudden heavy rains hit the area, causing floods and landslides. The day before, similar heavy rains in the mountainous village of Kishtwar in Indian-administered Kashmir led to flooding that killed 60 people, left 80 missing, and injured 150.
Recently, due to climate change, cloudbursts have frequently occurred in the Indian Himalayas and northern regions of Pakistan, where a large amount of rain falls intensively over a short period in a narrow area. Additionally, the months from June to September constitute the monsoon season, during which large-scale casualties often occur in South Asian countries like India and Pakistan.
According to Pakistani rescue authorities, about 2,000 rescue workers are currently involved in recovering bodies and rescue activities.
Bilal Ahmed Faizi, a spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa disaster response agency, noted, "Bodies are continuously being recovered from the rubble of collapsed houses," adding that "heavy rains, landslides, and road washouts are severely hampering the transport of heavy equipment and ambulances."
According to a study by the World Weather Attribution (WWA), from June 24 to the following month, the rainfall in Pakistan increased by 10-15% compared to the usual levels due to climate change.
In 2022, Pakistan also experienced record flooding and heavy rains, leading to the deaths of over 1,700 people and approximately $40 billion (about 55.6 trillion won) in economic losses.