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Arab News
an hour ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Rescuers search for three missing persons 24 hours after flash floods in Pakistan's Swat
ISLAMABAD: Rescuers are still searching for three people who were swept away by flash floods in the Swat river in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, an official said on Saturday, 24 hours after the tragic incident. Flooding in the river swept away 17 people early Friday, of which three were rescued, according to KP Rescue 1122 officials. The victims and survivors were tourists who reportedly hailed from Punjab and KP provinces. The operation to find the three missing persons has been ongoing for the last 24 hours, according to Shah Fahad, director-general of the provincial rescue service. 'Rescue 1122 operation is currently underway in different areas of Swat, including Khwaza Khela, Kabal Bypass and Barikot,' Fahad said in a statement. 'More than 120 personnel of Rescue 1122 are engaged in relief activities.' Flooding in the province has also damaged 56 houses, six of which were destroyed, the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority said on Friday. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that the risk of heavy rains and possible flash floods will remain high until at least Tuesday. The ongoing spell of rains has also killed nearly a dozen people in the eastern Punjab province and delayed the arrival and departure of trains in Sindh province in the south. Babar Raza, a spokesperson for Pakistan Railways, told Arab News the weather conditions had affected the railway signaling system, while the speed of trains had also been deliberately reduced for the sake of passenger safety. 'As a result, some trains are reaching their destinations with a delay of three to four hours,' he said. 'No trains have been canceled so far.' Pakistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its 240 million inhabitants are facing extreme weather events with increasing frequency. Last month, at least 24 people were killed in severe storms in the South Asian nation, which experienced several extreme weather events in the spring, including strong hailstorms.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Rescuers search for three missing 24 hours after flash floods in Pakistan's Swat
ISLAMABAD: Rescuers are still searching for three people who were swept away by flash floods in the Swat river in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, an official said on Saturday, 24 hours after the tragic incident. Flooding in the river swept away 17 people early Friday, of which three were rescued, according to KP Rescue 1122 officials. The victims and survivors were tourists who reportedly hailed from Punjab and KP provinces. The operation to find the three missing persons has been ongoing for the last 24 hours, according to Shah Fahad, director-general of the provincial rescue service. 'Rescue 1122 operation is currently underway in different areas of Swat, including Khwaza Khela, Kabal Bypass and Barikot,' Fahad said in a statement. 'More than 120 personnel of Rescue 1122 are engaged in relief activities.' Flooding in the province has also damaged 56 houses, six of which were destroyed, the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority said on Friday. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that the risk of heavy rains and possible flash floods will remain high until at least Tuesday. The ongoing spell of rains has also killed nearly a dozen people in the eastern Punjab province and delayed the arrival and departure of trains in Sindh province in the south. Babar Raza, a spokesperson for Pakistan Railways, told Arab News the weather conditions had affected the railway signaling system, while the speed of trains had also been deliberately reduced for the sake of passenger safety. 'As a result, some trains are reaching their destinations with a delay of three to four hours,' he said. 'No trains have been canceled so far.' Pakistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its 240 million inhabitants are facing extreme weather events with increasing frequency. Last month, at least 24 people were killed in severe storms in the South Asian nation, which experienced several extreme weather events in the spring, including strong hailstorms.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Several killed as flash floods sweep away dozens of people in Pakistan
Flash floods have killed at least nine people in northern Pakistan after pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of individuals. District administrator Shehzad Mahboob said on Friday that the nine people who were killed were from one extended family of 16 who were visiting the area and having a picnic breakfast by the Swat River, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Mahboob explained that children from the family were in the water taking photos when the flood occurred, relatives rushed in to save them, but were trapped in the deluge, which was exacerbated by the monsoon rains. Nine bodies had been recovered, with four members of the family still missing, while another four were rescued, Mahboob said. Earlier on Friday, Shah Fahad, a spokesperson for the provincial emergency service, said nearly 100 rescuers in various groups rescued 58 people and were looking for the tourists who had been swept away. Fahad called on the public to strictly adhere to earlier government warnings about a possible flash flood in the Swat River, a popular destination for tourists in the summer and Minister Shehbaz Sharif 'expressed his grief over the tourists' deaths', a statement from his office said. Sharif added that he had called on authorities to strengthen safety measures near rivers and streams. Meanwhile, according to rescue officials, at least 10 people were killed in rain-related incidents in eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces over the past 24 hours. Since the beginning of the week, heavy rains have battered parts of Pakistan, including blocking highways and damaging homes. According to weather forecasters, rains are expected to continue this week as the country's annual monsoon season, which runs from July through September, begins. However, weather forecasters are predicting less rain to fall in Pakistan during the monsoon season this year compared with 2022, when the intense rainfall flooded rivers, killing 1,739 people.
Al Jazeera
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Several killed as flash floods sweep away dozens of people in Pakistan
Flash floods have killed at least nine people in northern Pakistan after pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of individuals. District administrator Shehzad Mahboob said on Friday that the nine people who were killed were from one extended family of 16 who were visiting the area and having a picnic breakfast by the Swat River, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Mahboob explained that children from the family were in the water taking photos when the flood occurred, relatives rushed in to save them, but were trapped in the deluge, which was exacerbated by the monsoon rains. Nine bodies had been recovered, with four members of the family still missing, while another four were rescued, Mahboob said. Earlier on Friday, Shah Fahad, a spokesperson for the provincial emergency service, said nearly 100 rescuers in various groups rescued 58 people and were looking for the tourists who had been swept away. Fahad called on the public to strictly adhere to earlier government warnings about a possible flash flood in the Swat River, a popular destination for tourists in the summer and winter. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif 'expressed his grief over the tourists' deaths', a statement from his office said. Sharif added that he had called on authorities to strengthen safety measures near rivers and streams. Meanwhile, according to rescue officials, at least 10 people were killed in rain-related incidents in eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces over the past 24 hours. Since the beginning of the week, heavy rains have battered parts of Pakistan, including blocking highways and damaging homes. According to weather forecasters, rains are expected to continue this week as the country's annual monsoon season, which runs from July through September, begins. However, weather forecasters are predicting less rain to fall in Pakistan during the monsoon season this year compared with 2022, when the intense rainfall flooded rivers, killing 1,739 people.
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Pakistan flood sweeps away children and relatives trying to save them
At least nine people died when floodwaters swept away children in a river in northern Pakistan and relatives who had jumped into the water to try to save them, officials have said. The family was having a picnic breakfast by the Swat River and the children were in the water taking photos when the sudden flood hit, district administrator Shehzad Mahboob said. Relatives rushed in but were also caught up in the deluge, which had been swollen by monsoon rains, he added
