Over 180 people lost their lives due to flash floods in Pakistan
Monsoon Floods in Pakistan: Death Toll Surpasses 460
The monsoon season in Pakistan has been particularly devastating this year, with the death toll from floods and landslides surpassing 460 as of late August. The disaster has affected several provinces, causing widespread destruction and displacement.
Heavy Casualties and Affected Provinces
The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the hardest hit, with an emergency declared in nine districts. From August 15 to 19, there were 469 reported deaths, along with significant damage to homes and schools. Urban flooding has disrupted life and caused infrastructure damage in Sindh, particularly in Karachi. Gilgit-Baltistan has experienced a glacial lake outburst and landslides that destroyed homes and displaced families. Flooding has also displaced families and destroyed homes in Punjab due to rising river levels.
Forecast and Climate Change Impact
Heavy rains and flooding were expected to continue into late August, with forecasts indicating further downpours in the coming days. Scientists attribute the increased frequency and extremity of weather events to climate change, which likely intensified the heavy monsoon rains, exacerbating urban floods.
Rescue Operations and Challenges
During rescue operations, a rescue helicopter crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of its five-person crew. The floods in Buner have left survivors feeling as if death was imminent. Several areas in the northwest of Pakistan have been declared disaster zones due to the monsoon floods and landslides.
As of my last update, no specific forecast details were available for the period before August 21. However, it is clear that the monsoon season remains active throughout August. Azizullah described the floods as causing the ground to shake and tremble, while a survivor in Buner reported that the floods were like "doomsday." In the last 24 hours, at least 194 people have died in monsoon floods and landslides in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The government and international aid organisations are working tirelessly to provide relief and support to those affected by the floods. However, the challenges are immense, and the situation remains critical.
The unprecedented monsoon season in Pakistan has led scientists to link the increased frequency and extremity of weather events, such as heavy rains and flooding, to climate change, which may have contributed to the intensity of the urban floods in affected provinces. To tackle the impacts of climate change on the environment, we need to learn more about it through comprehensive studies in fields like environmental science and climate-change science.
