Pakistan floods kill over 960 people, over 2.6 million forced to evacuate

Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding across Pakistan, killing more than 960 people since late June this year. Over 2.6 million people in the central province of Punjab have been forced to evacuate.

 

The heavy rain in this year's monsoon season began in June causing major flooding. Rainfall in Punjab during the past three months was 36 percent higher than the average year.

 

Local disaster authorities say that as of Saturday the floods had caused 963 deaths nationwide, including 275 in Punjab, where tributaries of the Indus River overflowed their banks.

 

In the city of Multan, one of the country's major granaries was flooded, along with houses and farmlands. Many people who lost their homes are now living in tents.

 

A man who grows rice and mangoes said that about 16 hectares of agricultural land was flooded. He said he had never experienced such disasters and that it may take years for the land to return to normal.

 

Experts say flooding triggered by the heavy monsoon rains was worsened by climate change.

 

The Pakistani government is distributing water and food supplies to the affected people. The United Nations has allocated 5 million dollars to provide relief supplies to the country.

 

Nhk