The death toll from heavy monsoon rains that have triggered landslides and flash floods across northern Pakistan has risen to at least 243 people in the last 24 hours, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.
The majority of the deaths, 157, were recorded in the flood-hit Buner district in northwest Pakistan.
“The death toll may rise as we are still looking for dozens of missing people,” said Mohammad Suhail, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Rescuers backed by boats and helicopters have been working to reach stranded residents, with dozens of villagers still missing.
In Buner, authorities declared a state of emergency on Friday after dozens of people were injured as the deluge destroyed homes in villages.
According to a government statement, ambulances have transported more than 100 bodies to hospitals.
In a tragic turn of events, a helicopter on a rescue mission in the flood-hit province crashed due to bad weather, killing the five crew members on board.
“This was a Pakistani military helicopter that was involved in a rescue operation. Helicopters are being used to help people in areas that are hard to access,” said Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad.
The disaster has also affected tourists, with 1,300 stranded tourists rescued from the mountainous Mansehra district, which was hit by landslides on Thursday.
At least 35 people were reported missing in these areas, according to local officials. The toll since June 26 has reached 556, with the Meteorological Department forecasting more rain in northern and central regions.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the losses and asked authorities to expedite the rescue and relief work in the flood-affected areas.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the disaster management authority to ensure the evacuation of tourists and all those hit by the floods.
The region’s vulnerability to such disasters is exacerbated by climate change, with a study by World Weather Attribution finding rainfall in Pakistan from June 24 to July 23 was 10% to 15% heavier because of global warming.
The Himalayas are prone to floods and landslides, and some scientists say the intensity and frequency of these events are increasing due to climate change.