Pakistan floods’ death toll reaches 1,545

ISLAMABAD (Reuters): Pakistan’s unprecedented floods, which have submerged huge swathes of the South Asian nation, have killed 1,545 people, data showed on Saturday, as authorities looked to step up relief efforts for millions affected by the disaster.

The floods brought by record monsoon rains and glacial melt in northern mountains have hit 33 million of a population of 220 million, sweeping away homes, transport, crops and livestock in damage estimated at $30 billion.

According to the latest figures, 37 more people have died of floods across the country taking the total number of casualties to 1545. The number of injured persons has soared to 12, 850 injured whereas a total of 1,921,622 houses have been damaged.

The NDMA further says that 935,795 cattle swept away in flood waters across the country.

Over the last few weeks, authorities have thrown up barriers to keep the flood waters out of key structures such as power stations as well as homes, while farmers who stayed to try and save their cattle faced a new threat as fodder began to run out.

The government and the United Nations have blamed climate change for the surging waters, in the wake of record-breaking summer temperatures that have driven thousands from their homes to live in tents or along highways in the open.

Pakistan received 391 mm (15.4 inches) of rain, or nearly 190% more than the 30-year average, in July and August. That figure climbed to 466% for one of the worst-affected areas, the southern province of Sindh.