LAHORE, Pakistan — The number of people killed by monsoon rains and flash flooding in Pakistan has climbed past 100 over the past month, even as weather forecasters are warning that more significant rainfall is on the way later this week.
Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority confirmed that 109 people have lost their lives across the country since June 26. A large portion of those deaths were the result of homes and rooftops giving way under the strain of heavy rain. Nearly half of the fatalities were recorded in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which runs along the border with Afghanistan.
The updated death toll was released one day after disaster management officials conducted a nationwide review of flood preparedness. During that review, officials discussed strategies for getting timely warnings out to communities situated near rivers, giving residents the opportunity to relocate voluntarily or be evacuated before rising floodwaters reach their neighborhoods.
Earlier last week, heavy rainfall struck multiple parts of the country, including Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital. Several neighborhoods in the city were submerged, forcing drivers to find alternate routes. Videos and photos circulating on social media showed residents walking through standing water, and the flooding sparked sharp criticism from citizens who questioned whether the government was adequately prepared to handle severe weather events.
In recent months, authorities have cautioned that they cannot rule out a repeat of the catastrophic flooding Pakistan experienced in 2022. That disaster submerged roughly one-third of the country, claimed the lives of 1,737 people, and displaced millions more from their homes.
