Record rainfall and flash floods in Pakistan claim 30 lives in a week

Torrential rains and floods in Pakistan have caused significant damage, resulting in the deaths of at least 30 people this week, authorities reported on Friday.

Lahore, the country’s second-largest city, experienced its heaviest rainfall in over four decades, marking a severe start to the monsoon season.

These monsoon rains have triggered widespread floods and landslides across South Asia over the past week. In neighbouring India, at least 195 people have died, and nearly 200 are missing due to a catastrophic event.

Northern Pakistan has been particularly hard-hit, with floods causing building collapses and increasing the risk of electrocution.

According to officials in Punjab, "The 44-year-old rainfall record was broken in Lahore once again," with six deaths reported in the region. Authorities have also warned of potential flash floods in the country's southern regions, including Karachi, later this week.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Anwar Shehzad, a spokesman for the province's disaster management agency, told Reuters that 12 children were among the two dozen people who have died over the last three days due to the rains and floods.

Global organisations, including the United Nations, recognise Pakistan as one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change.

The country faced devastating floods in 2022, which resulted in over 1,700 deaths and displaced millions, highlighting the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and climate resilience.