Pakistan: Floods - Mar 1998

Following torrential rains and a tornado, which hit Turbat and surrounding areas of the Makran Coastal Range of the Province of Balochistan/Pakistan on 3 March 1998, the Provincial Government has reported that there are so far 150 dead and over 500 people are missing. In addition, approximately 3,000 houses have been washed away and hundreds of livestock have also been killed. An overall assessment of the damage is being conducted. [...] A review of the situation with the Cabinet Division (Emergency Relief Cell) in Islamabad suggests that the situation is now under control in terms of the immediate relief and supplies, while search and rescue operations are continuing. The Government has no intention of launching an international appeal for assistance as it considers the Provincial Government fully able to cope with the disaster and to carry out rehabilitation work once the emergency phase is over. (OCHA, 5 Mar 1998)

Unprecedented rains wreaked havoc in the Turbat district of Balochistan province, western Pakistan, on 3 and 4 March 1998, causing flash floods along the Dasht river system that swept through more than 100 villages. The waters spread across entire river valleys, washing away houses, structures, irrigation systems and some 43,000 acres of standing crops. At least 300 people died in the disaster, while 4,000 homes were destroyed and another 8,000 were damaged. Altogether some 200,000 people in the area were affected by the disaster. (IFRC, 29 Jan 1999)