Monsoon storms have been raging in Pakistan since June. The flood disaster has already claimed the lives of numerous people. But the situation continues to worsen.
Islamabad – Monsoon storms in Pakistan put the country in a state of emergency: The heavy rains and flash floods devastated parts of the country and cost the lives of numerous people. More than 30 million people are affected by the floods, over 1000 people have already lost their lives. There is no prospect of an improvement in the situation.
Monsoon in Pakistan: Flood kills over 1,000 people
In the past 24 hours alone, more than 100 new deaths have become known, the National Disaster Management Agency said on Sunday. The number of dead rose to 1033, including 348 children, it said.
Almost a million buildings and more than 3,400 kilometers of roads were damaged by overflowing rivers in the South Asian country, the authority said. Videos on social media showed how flash floods in the Swat Valley in the north of the country ripped down multi-story buildings. Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes and are now cut off from their environment in remote villages, it said. It could be days before rescuers reached them.
Millions of houses destroyed: people are evacuated from the floods
“The situation is getting worse as more heavy rains cause flooding and landslides,” said Adil Sheras, director of the aid organization Care in Pakistan. Many people have lost everything and need help.
Because of the risk of flooding, the authorities in Pakistan ordered the evacuation of thousands of people in the north of the country on Saturday (27 August). Army helicopters and rescue workers continued to carry residents in vulnerable areas to safety on Sunday.
The south of the country, which is already badly hit by the floods, is preparing for a new flood disaster. Authorities warned that the situation for millions of people could worsen in the coming days.
Floods in Pakistan: Government hopes for international help
Last Thursday (August 25) Pakistan’s government declared a state of emergency and asked for international help to deal with the disaster. In total, more than 33 million people were affected by the floods, it said.
The annual monsoon, with its immense rainfall, usually lasts from June to September. It plays an extremely important role for agriculture and water supplies, but it also causes devastating floods again and again. The monsoon also claimed many victims in India and Bangladesh, where the worst monsoon floods in years occurred. (dpa/AFP/sf)
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