SWAT – The body of another tourist who drowned in Swat River flash flood was recovered after which the death toll rose to 10, the local authorities said on Saturday.
The search operations are still underway to locate the remaining three missing individuals.
According to the district administration, a sudden surge in the river yesterday morning caught tourists off guard, stranding around 70 people at various locations along the Swat River.
The rescue teams successfully saved 55 people while the search for others continued into the next day.
The incident occurred near the Swat Bypass, where several families were having breakfast at a riverside hotel. Some had ventured into a dry section of the riverbed when a powerful flash flood swept through the area without warning, carrying people away.
The rescue officials reported that the affected group was a family from Sialkot who had come to Swat for a leisure trip. While seated near the river, a sudden rise in water flow caused by rainfall and upstream conditions resulted in the tragic accident.
At least ten members of the same family were swept away by the floodwaters.
Environmental experts point to climate change
The experts and environmentalists warned that such sudden surges in rivers are becoming increasingly common due to climate change. The unusual rises in temperatures and accelerated glacier melt are leading to unexpected flash floods, especially in northern and mountainous regions of Pakistan.
The local authorities have urged tourists to avoid riverbanks during unpredictable weather and have called for greater awareness and stricter safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
At least 18 tourists including 10 from one family swept away in Swat flash floods
