BUNER, Pakistan (AP) — A flood alert was issued in Pakistan on Wednesday as heavy rains were forecast for parts of the southern region. This warning follows a week of severe flooding in the country's northwest, which has resulted in the deaths of hundreds. Rescue teams are actively searching for missing individuals, with many casualties reported in the aftermath of the floods.
The warning specifically concerns southern districts that had previously experienced devastating floods in 2022, which resulted in thousands of fatalities due to climate-induced deluges. The National Emergencies Operation Centre has predicted that rainfall could reach up to 100 millimeters (approximately 4 inches) within the next 24 hours. The regions of Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, and Sukkur in Sindh province may face submerged highways, disrupted transport, and damage to power and telecommunications infrastructure.
In the last 24 hours, at least 41 individuals have lost their lives due to rain-related incidents nationwide, as reported by the disaster management agency. Most of these fatalities were concentrated in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region and the city of Karachi, where heavy rainfall on Tuesday caused widespread flooding, interrupting daily activities and prompting the closure of schools.
Pakistan has experienced above-normal monsoon rains since June 26, with at least 746 reported deaths attributed to these weather conditions. In the northwest, rescue operators are engaged in a desperate search for nearly 150 missing people in the Buner district. Floodwaters swept through villages, carrying massive boulders and mud, leading to collapsed homes and debris-laden landscapes. As search teams, aided by army sniffer dogs, recover more bodies, families await news of their loved ones with great anxiety.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, are expected to visit the flood-affected areas of Swat Valley and Buner later on Wednesday. According to Mohammad Suhail, a spokesperson for the emergency services, the death toll in Buner has now reached 290 following the discovery of additional bodies. Rescue teams are distributing essential supplies such as tents, blankets, cooking utensils, ready-to-eat food, and clean drinking water, while efforts to restore power continue. Most of the damaged roads in Buner have been reopened.
Survivors have shared harrowing accounts of the floods, describing how rushing waters overwhelmed their communities, leaving little time to seek safety. Many residents are expressing their frustration and anger towards the government for failing to issue timely warnings about the impending disaster.
