Pakistan Emergency Floods

“It was exactly 9:00 when I took one last look at the stream and felt it was about to overflow because of the relentless rain,” recalled Saeed Ahmad, 59, in an interview with Anadolu news agency.

Realising the danger, Mr. Ahmad immediately ordered an evacuation. Within just 15 minutes, every teacher and child had left the premises—barely moments before powerful floodwaters tore through the school, sweeping away half the building along with its boundary walls and playground.

“This quick decision by the principal saved 900 lives,” said local councillor Sarwar Khan.

But not everyone was so lucky. Abdul Salam, a resident of Punjab, told BBC Urdu about the dreadful moment he feared his wife, two daughters, and son had been caught in the raging floods of Swat Valley.

“I kept frantically dialling number after number, trying to reach my wife and children, but there was no response,” he said. All four had drowned.

In Buner, resident Asrar Khan said 27 people from his village were still unaccounted for.

When asked how the tragedy unfolded, he paused and drew a deep breath.

“It happened right before my eyes,” he recalled. Although he and others were able to rescue some, “the water was so powerful, it showed no mercy to anyone.”