Children make up half of more than 170 killed in Pakistan floods

Relentless floods have claimed the lives of more than 170 people in eastern Pakistan, about half of them children, in the latest catastrophe that underscores the country’s vulnerability to the escalating climate crisis.

At least 54 of the deaths came in the past 24 hours, according to the National Disaster Management Authority, after torrential rains swept through the most populous province of Punjab, collapsing homes and destroying roads.

At least 85 children have been killed since flooding began on June 26, the NDMA said.

Fears are now mounting for children, who are particularly vulnerable to the risk of drowning and catching life-threatening illnesses from waterborne diseases, aid agencies warn.

A state of emergency has been declared in several districts across the province, authorities said, and the military has been deployed in the city of Rawalpindi to deal with rising flood levels.

Video shared by Punjab’s Disaster Management Authority shows dramatic rescues as floodwaters submerge entire fields and roads. In one, first responders can be seen carrying children to safety in an inflatable raft.

Heavy rainfall continues to batter Rawalpindi and the nearby capital Islamabad, with multiple areas recording more than 100 millimeters on Thursday, according to Pakistan’s Meteorological Department. More heavy rain is expected Friday, it added.