A landslide buried a vehicle near Rondo Malupa in Skardu on Sunday, killing at least five people, rescue officials confirmed to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
The vehicle was on the road from Skardu to Shangu when it collided and a lot of debris fell. “The unfortunate vehicle was buried in a large amount of dust while traveling from Skardu to Shangu,” said rescue officials.
Police described the incident as “monstrous” and said the vehicle had been swept away, leaving no chance of survival for its occupants.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to begin search and rescue operations. Officials later confirmed that all five people in the vehicle were dead. The identity of the deceased has not been released.
Pakistan is one of the climate-vulnerable countries that frequently experience devastating weather events. This year was the wettest April in the country since 1961, with 59.3 mm of rain.
Unprovoked rain caused widespread damage including lightning strikes, landslides and house collapses, killing at least 144 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Earlier this year, heavy monsoon rains triggered landslides and floods in Gilgit-Baltistan province, causing havoc in villages like Kushnath, Pakora and Mominabad. Two children were killed in one incident, and critical infrastructure such as veterinary hospitals and schools were destroyed.
Mudslides often disrupt travel throughout the region, and the Karakoram Highway has been blocked several times due to heavy rain and snow. UN officials have warned that weather-related disasters could affect up to 200,000 people during the monsoon season, with more rain expected in the coming weeks.
By 2022, Pakistan has caused more than 1,700 deaths, $30 billion in damage, and millions of people homeless. Recent disasters highlight the risks associated with the country’s climate change.
