ISLAMABAD
Pakistani authorities on Sunday recovered 4 more bodies from the Swat River, raising the death toll to 12 after a flash flood swept away more than a dozen people in the country’s northwestern district of the same name.
A search operation is still underway for one missing person, according to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi.
“So far, Rescue 1122 teams recovered four dead bodies and one person is still missing,” Faizi said in a statement.
The flash flood hit Friday near the city of Mingora in the Swat district, part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. At least 16 people were swept away by the floodwaters, while three were rescued.
Authorities also evacuated around 80 stranded tourists from various locations along the river.
The incident comes as Pakistan faces a deadly start to the monsoon season. At least 22 people have died in rain-related accidents across the country over the past week.
Flash floods and heavy rains frequently batter Pakistan during the monsoon season, causing widespread casualties and damage, particularly in northern and northwestern regions.