At least 344 bodies were recovered within the last 48 hours after massive flash floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Northern Pakistan and struggles by the rescuers.
One resident in the area told AFP that it was as if it's the ‘end of the world’ as the ground shook with the force of the water.
Even though rains hampered rescue, around 2,000 rescuers have joint efforts to retrieve bodies and carry out relief operations in several areas.
"Heavy rainfall, landslides in several areas, and washed-out roads are causing significant challenges in delivering aid, particularly in transporting heavy machinery and ambulances," Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesman for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's rescue agency, told AFP.
Majority of the deaths were in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with figures showing 324 casualties.
Most of whom were killed in flash floods and collapsed debris.
While authorities recorded a total of approximately 124 others injured.
Meanwhile, Kashif Qayum Khan, Buner district deputy commissioner also said that rescuers are forced to find new ways to reach severely isolated and remote areas.
“Many more people may still be trapped under the debris, which local residents cannot clear manually," Khan told AFP.
The mountainous districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram, are now being declared as severely disaster-hit areas.
Pakistan’s meteorological agency has now announced a ‘heavy rain alert’ in the country’s northeast region, urging people to take “precautionary measures”.
