Heavy rains kill seven in southwest Pakistan amid warnings of more pre-monsoon rains
QUETTA: Heavy rains have killed seven people, including two children, and injured at least 25 in southwest Pakistan, Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials said on Sunday, adding that Dera Bugti district, around 360 km from Quetta, is the worst affected area.
Pakistan’s struggle with natural disasters has intensified in 2022, with unprecedented monsoon rains wreaking havoc across the country, claiming 1,700 lives and causing an estimated economic loss of $35 billion.
The southern regions of the country, including Balochistan, were the most devastated.
Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change, yet it accounts for less than 1% of global carbon emissions.
“Relief efforts are underway and we have provided food and tents to the victims,” Muhammad Yunus, who oversees the PDMA emergency response headquarters, told Arab News, confirming the death toll. “Authorities are assessing the damage.”
Yunus informed the state that pre-monsoon rains are expected from July 7 to early next month.
“The departments concerned have been asked to clean the waterways before any disaster occurs,” he added.
Riaz Ali, a resident of Sajo Colony in Sui city, Dera Bugti governorate, told Arab News that his 17-year-old son was killed the previous day when the roof of a local restaurant collapsed due to heavy rains.
“It started raining heavily around 4 or 5 p.m. and continued for about 30 minutes,” he recalled. “In the evening, I got a call from my neighbour who works at the hospital that her son had died. I went to the hospital to collect the body. He had suffered a head injury.”
The current situation reminded the people of the state of the devastation that occurred two years ago when flash floods caused by heavy rains destroyed homes, farmlands and public infrastructure across the state.
Sunaullah Panezai, associate professor of geography at Balochistan University, noted that weather patterns are becoming increasingly erratic in Pakistan.
“In the past, most of this rainfall started by the end of July and continued into September,” he said, noting that the region did not receive much rain in 2023. “Climate change is affecting rainfall and causing flash floods.”
Recent rains in Balochistan have also raised concerns about agricultural production in the region.
“Our apple orchard was partially damaged,” Fazal Deen, who owns a farm in Ziarat, told Arab News. “We also planted vegetables on 10 acres of land that was completely destroyed.”
