Twelve individuals perished on Friday as a landslide, caused by torrential rains, obliterated their home in Pakistan, according to rescue officials. This tragedy occurred as over 300 people have been killed since the onset of the monsoon season. The family, comprising three women and a child, was asleep when their dwelling in the secluded Patrak area of Upper Dir district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, collapsed. "The landslide in Patrak utterly demolished the house, resulting in the death of all 12 occupants," Bilal Faizi, spokesperson for rescue service 1122, informed AFP. Widespread regions of the nation have experienced heavy rainfall since Thursday night, with forecasts of thunderstorms continuing into Friday, according to Pakistan's meteorological department. A cyclonic storm is anticipated to strike the southern coastline, potentially causing torrential rains and flooding, as stated by the Sindh province disaster authority. Since the commencement of the monsoon in July, over 300 rain-related fatalities have been recorded across Pakistan. Most of these deaths have taken place in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjacent Punjab province, based on official data. "The fatalities were due to lightning strikes, electrocution, and the collapse of mud or deteriorated houses," a statement from Punjab's disaster management agency revealed on Friday. In late July, eleven family members were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when their home's basement flooded with rainwater as they slept. The summer monsoon delivers 70-80% of South Asia's annual rainfall from June to September, crucial for the sustenance of millions of farmers in a region home to approximately two billion people. However, it also induces landslides and floods, with scientists noting that climate change is intensifying and making seasonal rains more erratic. Pakistan continues to grapple with the aftermath of the catastrophic floods in 2022, which submerged nearly one-third of the country, impacting over 33 million individuals.
Text: Lara Palmer
30.08.2024
Over 300 deaths reported since monsoon season began, with heavy rains and floods affecting millions