The death toll from monsoon rains and flash flooding in Pakistan over the past month has surpassed 100, with weather forecasters warning that more heavy rain is expected across the country later this week.
Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority stated that 109 people have died nationwide since June 26. Many of the fatalities were attributed to collapsing houses and roofs, with nearly half of the reported deaths occurring in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan.
The latest figures were released as the disaster management authority reviewed flood preparedness measures. Officials discussed strategies for issuing timely warnings to communities situated along rivers, enabling residents to relocate to safer areas voluntarily or through evacuation before floodwaters inundate their homes.
Last week, heavy rainfall affected several parts of Pakistan, including Lahore, the country's cultural capital. The downpours led to flooding in numerous neighborhoods, causing significant disruptions to traffic and forcing commuters to seek lengthy alternate routes. Social media showed images of residents navigating through flooded streets, drawing criticism from some citizens regarding the government's readiness and response to extreme weather events.
Authorities have cautioned in recent months about the possibility of a recurrence of the extreme weather conditions that caused Pakistan's devastating floods in 2022. That disaster submerged approximately one-third of the country, resulting in 1,737 deaths and displacing millions of people.