Monsoon rains collapsed the roof of a multistory house in Lahore, Pakistan, killing at least nine family members and injuring several others. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The collapse occurred Wednesday night in the Baghbanpura neighborhood of Lahore. A loud crash woke residents, who rushed to help neighbors. The rescue operation lasted nearly 24 hours, and emergency responders retrieved the bodies of three families. Several survivors are in critical condition, according to Punjab's emergency service.
Residents said ongoing monsoon rains had weakened the building's upper roof, which gave way due to poor maintenance, triggering a progressive collapse that brought down lower floors.
Pakistan has been experiencing above-normal rainfall in recent years, with scientists linking the trend to climate change. Although the country contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change.
Since late June, over 100 people have died in rain-related incidents, including 14 children who died after the roof of a tutorial center collapsed.
Authorities have warned they cannot rule out a repeat of the extreme weather that caused Pakistan's catastrophic floods in 2022, which submerged about one-third of the country, killed 1,737 people, and displaced millions.