Monsora rains in Pakistan have been linked to more than 110 deaths, including dozens of children since they arrived at the end of June, according to government figures published Monday.
The data of the National Disaster Agency between June 26 and July 14 showed that electrocution was the main cause of deaths, followed by sudden floods.
At the end of June, at least 13 tourists were dragged to death while they took refuge from sudden floods on a shore of the elevated river. In his latest report, the Disaster Agency said that 111 people, including 53 children, have been killed, with the largest number of deaths in the most populous province of Punjab.
Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Service has issued a warning for stronger rains in the northern and east regions, with the potential for urban floods, landslides and infrastructure damage due to strong winds.
Pakistan’s department of Meteorology (PMD) warned that “heavy to very strong rain” could unleash sudden floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, parts of Baluchistan, Kashmir, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The torrents of the hill in Dera Ghazi Khan and landslides in Gilgit-Baltistan are also possible, while wind storms can damage trees, poles, vehicles and crops standing.
“The combination of monzónic currents of the Arabic sea and Bengal’s bay, and a strong wave of the west, will intensify rain throughout the country,” said an office spokesman. It is likely that this dual meteorological system persists in the next few days.
In the last 24 hours, Okara (72 mm), Sahiwal (66 mm) and DG Khan (51 mm) lead rain reports on Punjab, while Swat, Kalam and Malam Jabba received constant rainfall in KP. Urban flood remains a significant concern for cities such as Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Peshawar.
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world for the effects of climate change, and its 240 million residents face extreme climatic events with a growing frequency.
In 2022, unprecedented monsoon floods submerged a third of Pakistan and killed 1,700 people, and some areas were not yet recovered from the damage. In May, at least 32 people died in severe storms, including strong hail storms.
