Rescuers struggled in southwest Pakistan on Wednesday to reach thousands of families stranded in their villages after the heaviest rains in recorded history hit the South Asian country, raising fears about climate change.
Balochistan Home Minister Zia Lango said military helicopters and boats were being used in rescue operations to reach at least 50,000 families stranded in remote areas of Balochistan after roads and bridges were destroyed by floods.
The monsoon rains for several days have hit Balochistan and Karachi, the most populous southern city, flooding streets, blocking roads and forcing millions to search for dry land.
Chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said the rains in Balochistan and Karachi were the heaviest in Pakistan’s recorded history.
The media wing of the Pakistani armed forces said that military engineers and soldiers are helping rescuers drain water from flooded streets and reach stranded people.
The National Disaster Management Administration said the death toll from weeks of rain and flooding reached 340 on Wednesday and is expected to rise.
Experts attribute unusual rains and floods to climate change.
Some of them indicated that the country may continue to suffer if no concrete action is taken.