Pakistan: Monsoon-related incidents leave 13 people, mostly children, dead in KP

The information was shared by the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) said in a damage report on Wednesday.

Authorities have issued flood warning amid severe rainfall experienced in the region in recent days.

Pakistan is generally hit by rains between June and October.

The monsoon death toll since the end of June surged to 234, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as quoted by Dawn News.

Heavy rains triggered flash floods in several regions of Balochistan and KP.

The flash floods have resulted in severe damage to properties and even increased water levels across rivers and streams in the country.

Deadly floods show need for faster, wider warnings, UN agency says

From the Himalayas to rural Texas, deadly floods this month have killed hundreds and exposed dangerous gaps in early warning systems, the UN’s weather agency warned, linking the devastation to rapid urbanization, land-use change and a warming climate that traps more moisture in the atmosphere.

The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday that more intense downpours and glacier outburst floods are becoming increasingly frequent, with deadly consequences for communities caught off guard.

“Flash floods are not new, but their frequency and intensity are increasing in many regions due to rapid urbanization, land-use change and a changing climate,” said Stefan Uhlenbrook, WMO Director of Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere.

Each additional degree Celsius of warming enables the air to hold about 7 per cent more water vapour.

“This is increasing the risk of more extreme rainfall events. At the same time, glacier-related flood hazards are increasing due to enhanced ice melting in a warmer climate,” he added.

Thousands of lives lost every year

Floods and flash floods claim thousands of lives each year and cause billions of dollars in damage. In 2020, severe flooding across South Asia killed more than 6,500 people and caused $105 billion in economic losses.

Two years later, catastrophic floods in Pakistan left over 1,700 people dead, 33 million affected and losses exceeding $40 billion, reversing years of development gains.

This year, the onslaught has continued. In July alone, South Asia, East Asia and the United States have seen a string of deadly events, from monsoon rains to glacial lake bursts and sudden flash floods.