Latest news with #disasterauthority
Al Jazeera
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Nearly 200 people killed in Pakistan in heavy rains, flash floods
The death toll from heavy monsoon rains that have triggered landslides and flash floods across northern Pakistan has risen to at least 194 people, according to the disaster authority. Most of the deaths, 180, were recorded in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, with another five killed in the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan and nine in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, it said. Earlier, the authority had said 78 people died in the flood-hit Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The government said a helicopter on a rescue mission in the flood-hit province crashed due to the bad weather, killing the five crew members. Reporting from Islamabad, Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder said the helicopter was a military aircraft. 'This was a Pakistani military helicopter that was involved in a rescue operation. Helicopters are being used to help people in areas that are hard to access,' he said. Hundreds evacuated Dozens of people were injured as the deluge destroyed homes in villages in Buner, where authorities declared a state of emergency on Friday. Rescuers evacuated 1,300 stranded tourists from the mountainous Mansehra district, which was hit by landslides on Thursday. At least 35 people were reported missing in these areas, according to local officials. Nine more people were killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir while five died in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, authorities said. The Meteorological Department issued a heavy rain alert for the northwest, urging people to avoid 'unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas'. Floods in India-administered Kashmir The annual monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, which is vital for agriculture and food security but also brings destruction. Landslides and flash floods are common during the season, which usually begins in June and eases by the end of September. In India-administered Kashmir, rescuers continued to search for survivors under boulders and debris on Friday, a day after sudden floods triggered by heavy rains killed at least 60 people and left 200 missing. Gushing mudslides and floodwaters inundated the village of Chasoti on Thursday, washing away pilgrims who had gathered for lunch before trekking up a hill to a popular religious site in the second such disaster in the Himalayas in a little more than a week. The Himalayas are prone to floods and landslides, but some scientists said the intensity and frequency of these events are increasing due to climate change.
Arab News
20 hours ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Over 150 killed in 24 hours as rains, floods batter northern Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: At least 146 people were killed in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and eight in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region over the past 24 hours as heavy rains and flash floods triggered multiple deadly incidents, figures from disaster authority officials showed. Pakistan, which contributes less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Nationwide deaths since this year's monsoon season began in late June have crossed 460, according to an Arab News tally, evoking memories of 2022 when catastrophic monsoon rains and glacial melt submerged a third of the country, killing more than 1,700 people and causing over $30 billion in damages. Scientists say rising temperatures are making South Asia's monsoon rains more erratic and intense, increasing the risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. 'During the last 24 hours, 146 people have died and 15 have been injured in different incidents due to rains and flash floods,' the PDMA said in its preliminary report about the situation in KP province. 'Among the deceased are 126 men, 8 women and 12 children, while the injured include 12 men, 2 women and 1 child.' The authority said 35 houses were damaged, including 28 partially and seven completely destroyed. The incidents were reported in Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Upper and Lower Dir, Mansehra, Shangla and Battagram districts. 'The most affected districts due to heavy rains and flash floods are Buner, Bajaur and Battagram, where rescue operations are still ongoing,' the PDMA said. 'Two helicopters have been dispatched to Bajaur and Buner for rescue operations.' Pakistan's largest TV news channel Geo News reported that one of the government helicopters sent to Bajaur had crashed with three onboard. Arab News could not independently verify this. The PDMA warned that the current spell of heavy rains was expected to continue intermittently until August 21 and directed all district administrations to take precautionary measures. 'PDMA, all relevant institutions, relief teams, district administration and Rescue 1122 are in contact and monitoring the situation,' the statement added. Separately, officials in the mountainous Gilgit-Baltistan region confirmed eight deaths in Ghizer and Diamer districts after homes were swept away by floods and landslides.
Reuters
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
13 civilians killed in Pakistani Kashmir in 12 hours, says disaster authority
ISLAMABAD, May 10 (Reuters) - At least 13 civilians were killed in Pakistani Kashmir in 12 hours until noon on Saturday, the region's disaster authority said, as India and Pakistan traded fire after Islamabad's military action against India in the early hours of the day. More than 50 people were also injured in the region, the authority said. Tensions between India and Pakistan, both of who rule Kashmir in part, have escalated since India struck "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan on Wednesday.
