Flash floods triggered by pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of tourists in northwest Pakistan on Friday, leaving at least eight dead, as the nationwide death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 18 over the past 24 hours, officials said.
Nearly 100 rescuers were deployed to search for missing tourists swept away while picnicking along the Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to Shah Fahad, a spokesman for the provincial emergency service, as reported by AP.
Fahad said only three people belonging to an extended family of 16 could be rescued, while the others remain missing. Divers have recovered eight bodies after hours-long efforts, with the search continuing for the remaining victims.
Videos circulating on social media showed about a dozen people stranded on a slightly elevated spot in the middle of the Swat River, pleading for help as floodwaters rapidly rose.
Fahad urged the public to strictly follow earlier government warnings about potential flash flooding in the Swat River, which flows through the scenic Swat Valley — a popular summer destination for tens of thousands of tourists.
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Elsewhere in the country, at least 10 people were killed in rain-related incidents across the eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces over the past 24 hours, according to rescue officials.
Weather forecasters predict the rains will continue throughout the week. Pakistan’s annual monsoon season typically runs from July to September.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of tourists swept away by floods in the Swat River. In a statement, he directed authorities to enhance safety measures near rivers and streams.
Heavy rainfall has battered parts of Pakistan since earlier this week, blocking highways and damaging homes. However, weather officials expect less rainfall compared to 2022, when climate-induced downpours swelled rivers, submerged a third of the country, and killed 1,739 people.