Pakistan monsoon floods kill 109 as villagers flee by boat

Heavy monsoon flooding has inundated villages in eastern Pakistan, forcing residents to flee their homes by boat across fields transformed into wide stretches of water.

Pakistan’s disaster agency said flood-related incidents, including drownings and house collapses, had killed 109 people nationwide since June 26. Around a third of the deaths occurred in Punjab province.

AFP journalists on Monday saw small motorboats chartered by volunteers carrying people to safety in Muridke district in Punjab. Many residents remained stranded.

Iqra Salman, 32, said no official rescue team had reached her area after four days. She said residents were surrounded by floodwater without electricity, clean water or adequate food supplies.

Volunteer rescuer Haris Dar said four boats were evacuating stranded residents. Volunteers were trying to rescue people and recover belongings from about a dozen villages.

Some displaced residents were sleeping in small tents in humid conditions beside the floodwater and a road.

Muhammad Ramzan, 45, said water rushed into his area before his family’s house collapsed, leaving them unable to save their belongings.

Pakistan is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and has limited resources for adaptation.

South Asia’s seasonal monsoon provides rainfall needed by farmers, but climate change is making the weather pattern more erratic, unpredictable and deadly across the region.

In neighbouring Afghanistan, disaster authorities said flash floods and heavy rainfall killed 34 people between July 20 and 26.

A deluge in eastern Nuristan province also left about 100 people missing.