Iran Press/ Asia: The floods also have left 30 million people shelter-less and caused tremendous damage.
The country is in the midst of a national crisis which is a consequence of a global crisis. As relevant authorities say, this year’s monsoon rains have been unusually incessant, resulting in flash floods all over Pakistan.
Thousands of people living near flood-swollen rivers in the north were ordered to evacuate Saturday (Aug 27) as the death toll from devastating monsoon rains neared 1,000 with no end in sight.
Many rivers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - a picturesque province of rugged mountains and valleys - have burst their banks, demolishing scores of buildings, including a 150-room hotel that crumbled into a raging torrent.
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"The house which we built with years of hard work started sinking in front of our eyes," said Junaid Khan, 23, the owner of two fish farms in Chrasadda.
"We sat on the side of the road and watched our dream house sinking."
The annual monsoon is essential for irrigating crops and replenishing lakes and dams across the Indian subcontinent, but each year it also brings a wave of destruction.
Officials say this year's monsoon flooding has affected more than 33 million people - one in seven Pakistanis - destroying or badly damaging nearly a million homes.
On Saturday, authorities ordered thousands of residents in threatened areas to evacuate their homes as rivers had still not reached maximum capacity.
"Initially, some people refused to leave, but when the water level increased, they agreed," Bilal Faizi, spokesman for the Rescue 1122 emergency service, told AFP.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced to start relief operation to support victims trapped following heavy floods and torrential rainfall, ARY News reported on Saturday.
PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat has instructed the authorities to remain vigilant and restore Emergency Response Center.
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