PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Flash floods triggered by pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of vacationers in northwest Pakistan on Friday, killing at the least seven folks.
The nationwide loss of life toll from rain-related incidents rose to 17 over the previous 24 hours, officers stated.
Practically 100 rescuers in varied teams have been looking for the lacking vacationers who have been swept away whereas picnicking alongside the Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, stated Shah Fahad, a spokesman for the provincial emergency service.
He stated 16 members from the identical household have been among the many useless or lacking.
Fahad stated divers had up to now rescued seven folks and recovered seven our bodies after hours-long efforts and the search continued for the remaining victims.
Movies circulating on social media confirmed a couple of dozen folks stranded on a barely elevated spot in the midst of the Swat River, crying for assist amid quickly rising floodwaters.
Fahad urged the general public to stick strictly to earlier authorities warnings about doable flash flooding within the Swat River, which runs by the scenic Swat Valley — a well-liked summer time vacation spot for tens of 1000’s of vacationers who go to the area in summer time and winter alike.
Elsewhere, at the least 10 folks have been killed in rain-related incidents in japanese Punjab and southern Sindh provinces over the previous 24 hours, in accordance with rescue officers.
Climate forecasters say rains will proceed this week. Pakistan’s annual monsoon season runs from July by September.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his deep sorrow and grief over the deaths of the vacationers swept away by the floods within the Swat River. In an announcement, he directed authorities to strengthen security measures close to rivers and streams.
Heavy rains have battered components of Pakistan since earlier this week, blocking highways and damaging properties.
Nonetheless, climate forecasters say the nation will obtain much less rain in contrast with 2022 when the climate-induced downpour swelled rivers and inundated one-third of Pakistan at one level , killing 1,739.