Pakistan: Flash Floods In Swat Sweep Away 18 Tourists; Claim Seven Lives

Flash floods struck Fizagat, Swat district, on Friday morning, sweeping 18 tourists, including women and children, into the raging Swat River in Pakistan.

Two visiting families were eating breakfast on the riverbank when the water level rose abruptly and engulfed their picnic spot.

Rescue teams recover seven bodies, save three victims

Deputy Commissioner Swat Shahzad Mehboob confirmed that rescuers have recovered seven bodies and pulled three people to safety.

He warned that swift currents and scattered incident sites continue to hinder operations.

“Nearly 73 people remain trapped at multiple locations along the river,” he said.

Eye-Witnesses decry delayed emergency response

A grieving tourist reported losing 10 members of his immediate family, including nine children still missing. “At first, the river was calm; the kids moved closer to take a selfie. The water wall arrived in seconds,” he told local media.

He claimed rescue personnel reached the scene hours after the first distress calls, by which time several children who had been struggling in the water had disappeared.

Viral Video Sparks Public Outrage

Footage circulating on social media shows women and children stranded mid-stream while bystanders watch helplessly.

Eyewitnesses accused local authorities of negligence, insisting the victims waited nearly two hours for assistance despite repeated shouts for help.

Initial reports indicate that the tourists came from districts in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Officials have advised residents and visitors to avoid riverbanks as monsoon-fed streams continue to rise.

Rescue teams remain on high alert, combing the river’s course for the missing and providing support to survivors.

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