As many as 321 people have been killed in north-west Pakistan as heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods and landslides in the region, the Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has said.
The majority of the deaths, 307, occurred in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in north-western Pakistan. Five deaths were reported in northern Gilgit-Baltistan, while nine more were killed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Earlier on Friday, the authorities had said 225 people had died in flash floods in the Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Most of the victims lost their lives due to the collapse of houses and residential structures.
Rescuers have so far evacuated 1,300 tourists from the mountainous Mansehra district, which was hit by landslides on Thursday. Meanwhile, dozens more are reportedly missing, officials said.
Also Read : Flash floods kill 260 across India and Pakistan
The Met Department in Pakistan has issued another advisory, warning that heavy rainfall is likely in the coming days and urging people to take all necessary precautions.
Six districts of north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram, have been declared disaster-hit areas.
The annual monsoon season brings about 70 to 80 per cent of South Asia's rainfall, which is vital for agriculture and food security. However, the phenomenon also brings destruction across the region.
The monsoon remains critical for the subcontinent, as it replenishes vegetation, sustains wildlife, and boosts water supply, which is crucial for the predominantly agro-based economies of South Asia.
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