Pakistan Flood Death Toll Climbs to 277 Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts

Pakistan Flood Death Toll Climbs to 277 Amid Ongoing Rescue Efforts
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Pakistan’s death toll from devastating flash floods rose to 277 on Monday, as anguished families searched for missing relatives in remote northern areas, the Associated Press reported. The worst-hit district was Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where more than 150 people remain missing after torrents swept through villages Friday.

Emergency services said three more bodies were recovered Monday, while the army deployed engineers and heavy machinery to assist in clearing debris. Residents criticized the lack of early warnings, saying mosque loudspeakers — the usual method of alerting communities — were silent before the floods struck.

Officials argued the downpour was so sudden and intense that there was no time to warn people. Provincial chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur said many casualties could have been avoided if homes had not been built near waterways, though survivors countered that their ancestral homes and businesses were not located close to streams.

The National Disaster Management Authority has issued new flood alerts as heavy rains continue nationwide, already killing 645 people since late June, including 400 in the northwest. The military said the air force has airlifted 48 tons of relief goods to Peshawar and established an air bridge to speed aid delivery. UN agencies are working to reach isolated areas cut off by damaged roads and communications.