27 dead and 146 injured by heavy rains in Pakistan
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Eight children are among the fatalities. The country is also facing the imminent arrival of an “extremely severe category” cyclone in the south.
At least 27 people lost their lives in Pakistan as a result of heavy rains and strong winds that have wreaked havoc in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to a report delivered this Sunday (06.11.2023) by local authorities . So far, 146 injuries have also been registered.
The victims occurred due to the collapse of houses and walls in the province, where trees collapsed and high-voltage pylons fell, leaving numerous areas without electricity. Taimur Ali Jan, spokesman for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, said at least “12 people were buried alive after roofs and walls collapsed in their homes.”
Of the total fatalities, eight are minors. In Bannu district alone, 15 people lost their lives, including five children between the ages of 2 and 11. The authorities declared a state of emergency in the four most affected districts, where they also reported the death of more than 200 head of cattle.
A cyclone is coming
The disaster management authority added that around 70 homes were totally or partially damaged, while "measures are being taken to ensure the supply of relief materials to the victims." The extent of the damage is still being assessed, so it is feared that the number of victims could increase in the coming hours.
These heavy rains come at a time when the southern coast of Pakistan is on alert for the arrival of “extremely severe” cyclone Biparjoy, which is expected to make landfall on the 15th between the city of Karachi, in the province of Sindh, and the western coast of India, although its effects will already be felt on the 13th, with winds of up to 80 kilometers per hour, electrical storms and heavy rains.