At least 12 people, mostly children, lost their lives in a mudslide triggered by heavy monsoon rains on Friday night.
In northwest Pakistan, heavy monsoon rains triggered a deadly mudslide, killing at least 12 people, primarily children, late on Friday. Local rescue officials confirmed the tragic event. Since the beginning of July, the monsoon season in Pakistan has claimed at least 275 lives, according to a report from AP, shared by TASR on Friday.
The most recent mudslide occurred in a district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of nine children, two women, and one man from the mud and debris.
Southern Pakistan Also Hit by Torrential Rains
Severe rainfall is also affecting southern Pakistan, where schools were closed in the nation’s largest city, Karachi, on Friday. The storms are being driven by a low-pressure system currently moving over the Arabian Sea. This system is located near the Indian state of Gujarat and is moving northwest. Meteorologists warn that it could intensify into a tropical cyclone.
In Gujarat and nearby coastal areas, the heavy rains have already claimed more than 28 lives since Sunday, forcing 18,000 people to temporarily evacuate their homes, according to Reuters. The monsoon season in Pakistan typically lasts from July to September, with authorities cautioning the public about the risks of flash floods and mudslides during this period.
Climate Change Intensifying Rainfall
Scientists have noted that heavier monsoon rains in recent years are being fueled by climate change. In 2022, Pakistan experienced devastating monsoon rains that affected nearly one-third of the country, resulting in the loss of 1,739 lives during the season.
