Disaster authorities in Pakistan report at least 4 people have lost their lives after flash floods and severe weather in the country’s Balochistan Province. This follows severe weather in the province in March when 10 people died.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan has also experienced heavy rain, floods and landslides in the last 4 weeks. Authorities report at least 17 people have lost their lives.

Search and rescue operations at the site of the landslide in Torkham, Khyber District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, April 2023. Photo: KP Rescue 1122

Balochistan Province

Storms brought heavy rain and lightning strikes to Balochistan Province from 29 April 2023. On 30 April, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported 2 people died in the city of Khuzdar, 1 person in Kech and 1 person in Lasbela. At least 4 people were reported injured. PDMA also reported several houses damaged or destroyed in Chaghi, Panjgur and Kech.

Traffic has been severely disrupted after roads were flooded and several bridges were washed out.

Last month 8 people died after flash floods swept away vehicles in the Awaran district of Balochistan on 17 March 2023. Two further fatalities were reported after heavy rain in the Zhob District. Houses were reported damaged in Awaran, Zhob and Khuzdar Districts.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Severe weather including floods and landslides also impacted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in recent weeks.

Heavy rain from 29 March caused further damages in South Waziristan, Hangu, Orakzai, Peshawar, Tank and Bajaur. In total 135 houses were damaged, at least 5 were destroyed, 9 people were injured and 5 people lost their lives, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported.

A large landslide in Torkham, Khyber District, buried several vehicles on 18 April 2023. As of 23 April search and rescue teams reported 8 fatalities.

Flooding and landslides were also reported in Swat, Upper Dir and Upper Kohistan on 18 April. One person died when a house collapsed due to heavy rain in Upper Dir from 18 to 19 April.

Heavy rain and flooding impacted communities in Orakzai district on 19 April. One person died when a house collapsed and 2 others were reported missing and later died after being swept away by floods in Kanganai village.