Glacial floods alert issued for northwest Pakistan with more heavy rain forecast
Dr. Abdul Samad from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Department said rescue teams evacuated more than 500 holidaymakers from Naran after a cloudburst overnight Friday caused a road closure. Authorities deployed heavy machinery to remove debris and restore access. In the neighboring Gilgit-Baltistan region the government said it had distributed hundreds of tents thousands of food packets and medicine to flood-affected communities. Spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said Saturday there was severe destruction in some areas and damage to houses infrastructure crops and businesses. Search operations were underway to find missing people on the Babusar Highway where flooding struck nine villages. Helicopters rescued tourists stuck in the popular spot of Fairy Meadows he added.
Pakistan has received above-average rainfall this monsoon season raising concerns of a repeat of the devastating 2022 floods that submerged a third of the country and killed 1,737 people. Some 260 have died across Pakistan so far this season which runs through to mid-September. Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change but one of the lowest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Heavy rain pummels the East Coast and sparks localized flash flooding
Strong rain storms lashed the East Coast Thursday delaying flights throughout the region and stranding motorists in deep water from the Philadelphia area to New York City. In New York, the Clearview Expressway, a major highway in the borough of Queens, was closed in both directions and the commuter rail system into suburban Long Island suspended service on one of its busiest lines during rush hour. Traffic cameras and social media posts showed stranded vehicles as the severe weather prompted officials to plead with people to say home. In Pennsylvania, National Weather Service warnings for up to 3 inches of rain in an hour and the downpour produced flooding in the streets of Reading. One video online showed water pouring down a city street rising halfway up a parked car and rendering a busy commercial intersection nearly impassable as waters rose into a car's wheel wells. In Maryland, multiple water rescues were reported in communities north of Baltimore. Flash flood warnings were up for parts of New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia while states of emergency were declared in New Jersey and New York City where state workers were sent home early. Airports in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia all reported significant flight delays and cancellations. Tornado warnings in New Jersey came and went with no reports of twisters though more than 6,000 electricity customers were without power. Forecasters said the strongest storms were expected later Thursday afternoon and night. The National Weather Service said heavy to excessive rainfall and potentially severe thunderstorms were expected along the Washington-Philadelphia-New York City corridor. Some areas in the southern part of the region could see rainfall rates of 2 inches (5 centimeters) per hour, the service said. Stay home this evening unless its absolutely necessary for you to go out Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman told suburban Long Island residents. The weather service issued flash flood warnings early Thursday afternoon for parts of Berks, Lancaster, and York counties in Pennsylvania and parts of Baltimore and Hartford counties in northern Maryland, meaning heavy rain was falling. The service said flooding was possible in small creeks and streams and urban areas along with highways, streets, underpasses, and poor-drainage and low-lying areas. Flood watches and severe thunderstorm watches were in effect in the region until late Thursday and Friday with 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain possible in some areas. The weather service posted a severe thunderstorm warning for an area of eastern Pennsylvania between Allentown and Reading saying 60 mph (97 kph) wind gusts and penny-size hail were possible. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro posted on social media that state emergency management officials were preparing potential response and recovery efforts. New York City officials warned that heavy rain could flood some streets, parts of the subway, and basements. They urged people living in basements to move to higher floors and issued an advisory asking New Yorkers to avoid travel from Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon.
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan warns of flash floods in north as monsoon death toll nears 300
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning for heavy rains and potential flash floods from Thursday night in the northern regions, as the total monsoon death toll nears 300, with a majority of the victims being children. Torrential rains have continued to wreak havoc across Pakistan since June 26, claiming 291 lives, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Among the victims are 138 children. The NDMA said 698 people have also been injured, including 236 children. 'During tonight, heavy rains may generate flash floods in local streams of Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Tank, Dera Ghazi Khan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir,' the PMD said in its daily weather report on Thursday. 'Heavy falls, windstorm and lightning may damage weak structures like roof/wall of houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels etc during the forecast period.' The Met Office added widespread rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds is also expected across eastern Pakistan today, affecting areas including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur. Isolated showers are expected in northern and central regions on Friday, with heavier downpours likely in southern and western areas like Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalnagar. Pakistan, which ranks among the world's most climate-vulnerable nations, has witnessed increasingly erratic weather events in recent years. In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, while a third of the country was submerged by devastating floods in 2022 that killed more than 1,700 people, affected over 30 million and caused an estimated $35 billion in damages.
Al Arabiya
15 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Japan lifts tsunami advisory after Russia quake: Weather office
Japan has lifted the tsunami advisory that was issued after massive Russia earthquake, AFP reports citing the weather office. Developing
