Heavy rains and flooding in Pakistan

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Monsoon rains have been exceptionally heavy this year, triggering flash floods in many parts of Pakistan. The government said dozens of people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

The worst-hit provinces include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in northwestern Pakistan, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. The floods also caused extensive material damage. The National Disaster Management Authority and provincial emergency officials say Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has suffered the most damage by far.

During the monsoon season, excessive rainfall is normally expected, so the relevant authorities have issued a number of warnings in good time. At the same time, a number of preventive measures have been taken. The deputy director of the Pakistan Meteorological Department said that meteorologists cannot rule out a repeat of the extreme weather of three years ago.

In 2022, rains flooded a third of the country and killed 1,737 people. It was one of the deadliest floods in the world, and damages at the time amounted to an astronomical $40 billion.

The flooded Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa swept away 13 residents and rescuers managed to get others to safety in time. Search operations are continuing in all provinces, as quite a number of residents are still missing. Trained divers have also been called in to help search for victims in the flooded river.

The rivers will remain flooded for several more days, so the National Disaster Management Authority warned of potential dangers and advised people to avoid crossing rivers and streams.

Source:Aljazeera