11 Dead as Flash Floods Hit Swat Valley, Pakistan

At least 11 people, including children and women, have died due to flash flooding in the mountainous northwest region of Pakistan as the monsoon season begins, according to disaster management authorities.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial disaster management agency reported on Friday night that in the past 24 hours, flash floods and landslides have resulted in 11 fatalities — including four children and three women — while six others were injured.

The majority of the casualties occurred in the Swat Valley, where local media reports said a flash flood swept away families camping by the riverbank.

In addition to the human toll, the floods have also damaged 56 homes, with six completely destroyed, the report added.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a warning that the threat of heavy rainfall and potential flash floods will remain high through at least Tuesday.

Just last month, severe storms claimed the lives of 24 people, adding to a series of extreme weather incidents this year — including damaging hailstorms in the spring.

Pakistan, home to more than 240 million people, is considered one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are increasing as the effects of climate change become more pronounced.