The monsoon rains in Pakistan are linked to more than 110 deaths, including dozens of children since their arrival at the end of June, according to government figures published on Monday.
National Disaster Agency data between June 26 and July 14 showed that electrocution was the main cause of death, followed by sudden floods.
At the end of June, at least 13 tourists were swept until their death when they reflect sudden floods on a raised bank. In its latest report, the disaster agency said 111 people, including 53 children, were killed, with the greatest number of deaths in the most populous province in Punjab.
Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Service issued a warning for new strong precipitation in the regions of the North and East of the country, with the potential for urban floods, landslides and damage to infrastructure due to strong winds.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that “strong to very strong precipitation” could release sudden floods to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, certain parts of Baloutchistan, Cashmire, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Gilgit-Baltistan mud shifts are also possible, while wind storms can damage trees, posts, vehicles and standing crops.
“The combination of monsoon currents from the Oman Sea and Bengal Bay, and a strong West wave, will intensify precipitation across the country,” said a spokesperson for the Met Office. This double meteorological system is likely to persist in the coming days.In the past 24 hours, Okara (72 mm), Sahiwal (66 mm) and DG Khan (51 mm) have led precipitation reports to Punjab, while Swat, Kalam and Malam Jabba received stable KP precipitation. Urban floods remain an important concern for cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Peshawar.
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world with the effects of climate change, and its 240 million residents are faced with extreme weather events with an increasing frequency.
In 2022, unprecedented floods overwhelmed a third of Pakistan and killed 1,700 people, with certain areas to recover damage. In May, at least 32 people were killed in serious storms, including strong hailstorm storms.
