At least nine dead in monsoon rains in southwestern Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, July 5. (DPA/EP) –

At least nine people, including several minors, have died during the last day due to monsoon rains in the province of Baluchistan, in southwestern Pakistan.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has indicated in a report that three women and five children have been swept away in the area. In addition, dozens of people have been injured.

Heavy rainfall has also caused flooding in urban areas and damage to some 200 homes and electrical infrastructure in the provincial capital, Quetta, although authorities fear the death toll will continue to rise.

On the other hand, several roads have been completely impassable due to landslides caused by the rains.

The NDMA estimates that at least 38 people have died in the country since June 14 in incidents related to monsoon rains. Floods, showers, droughts and soil erosion due to poor air quality have increased in Pakistan in recent years.