Status: 08/22/2022 7:30 p.m
South Asia is currently suffering from unusually heavy rainfall. In Pakistan alone, almost 800 people have died from flooding since the rainy season began. Thousands are currently cut off from the rest of the country.
Flash floods triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains have killed nearly 800 people in Pakistan since June. In August alone, there have been around 300 deaths so far, the civil protection authority said. Cloudbursts and floods have affected around 1.8 million people since June 14. The military is trying to rescue people from their flooded villages with boats and helicopters.
According to the information, the water masses washed away almost 60,000 houses nationwide, interrupted roads and damaged bridges. It is therefore even more difficult for rescuers to come to the aid of those affected. More than 317,000 people were still living in makeshift camps.
The authorities want to set up additional accommodation and medical care in remote regions of the provinces that are particularly hard hit. They said they had brought more food, tents and other essential supplies to almost every flooded area. However, videos circulated on the Internet showing that many people were apparently still waiting for help.
Schools in Balochistan closed
The southwestern province of Baluchistan, for example, is currently cut off from the rest of the country because masses of water have flooded tracks and roads and destroyed bridges. Train traffic has also been paralyzed in the neighboring province of Sindh.
The authorities in Balochistan ordered all schools to be closed for a week. “We expect more rain and flooding in the coming days,” said a spokesman for the provincial authority.
The monsoon rains in Pakistan usually last until September, this year they are unusually heavy. Because natural disasters such as droughts, heat waves and floods are on the rise in Pakistan, Climate Protection Minister Sherry Rehman has already warned of an “existential crisis” in her country.
India was also badly affected
In the neighboring countries of India and Afghanistan, numerous people have also died in flash floods in connection with heavy rainfall in the past few days. More rain is expected in some areas in the coming days, according to the Indian Weather Service.