Monsoon Deaths in Pakistan Exceed 100 in One Month with More Rain Expected

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — The number of deaths from monsoon rains and flash floods in Pakistan over the last month rose above 100 on Monday as meteorologists warned that additional heavy rainfall is expected across the nation later this week.

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority reported that 109 people have died countrywide since June 26. Many fatalities resulted from houses and roofs caving in, with nearly half occurring in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border.

The update followed a review by the disaster management authority on Sunday of flood readiness measures nationwide. Officials discussed strategies to send prompt alerts to communities along rivers so residents can relocate to safer areas on their own or be evacuated before floodwaters overrun their neighborhoods.

Last week, heavy downpours hit parts of the country, including Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural center, where several districts flooded, forcing commuters to use long detours. Photos and videos online showed residents walking through water. It prompted criticism from locals, who questioned the government’s readiness and response to severe weather.

Authorities in recent months have cautioned that they can’t dismiss the possibility of weather events like those that caused Pakistan’s catastrophic 2022 floods. That disaster left about one-third of the country underwater, killed 1,737 people, and displaced millions.