In the past week, heavy rains and floods wreaked havoc in the northwestern and southwestern regions of Pakistan, resulting in nearly 100 fatalities and numerous injuries, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The torrential rains triggered flash floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Balochistan, Punjab, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), causing significant damage to infrastructure and claiming lives. According to the latest update from NDMA, 98 people lost their lives, and 89 sustained injuries due to collapsing structures.
Furthermore, approximately 3,261 houses suffered damage, with 536 being destroyed. The calamitous floods and landslides also inflicted harm on roads and bridges in the mountainous terrains of K-P and Balochistan.
NDMA cautioned that the inclement weather is expected to persist until April 22, potentially leading to further flooding in Balochistan and K-P. The agency highlighted areas prone to flash floods, including Khuzdar, Ziarat, Zhob, Sherani, Muslim Bagh, Quetta, Pishin, Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, and Turbat.
Moreover, heavy rainfall is forecasted from April 25 to 29, prompting authorities to advise the public to exercise caution and avoid vulnerable infrastructure. They also urged people to refrain from traversing waterways on foot or by vehicle.
In parallel, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Disaster Management reported substantial casualties and damages caused by heavy rains and floods across various regions of the country. At least 70 fatalities and 56 injuries were recorded, alongside significant destruction of homes and loss of livestock.
The weather agency in Afghanistan anticipates the continuation of rainfall until Sunday, prolonging the risk of further devastation.
