Video shows luxury hotel being swept away by floods in Pakistan
Luxury hotel is swept away by floods in Pakistan as Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif begs for international help amid struggle to evacuate thousands from 170,000 damaged homes
- The New Honeymoon Hotel in Kalam had its foundations washed away by the floods before it collapsed
- Heavy rain has hit the impoverished nation hard as the death toll reached 937 since mid-June due to floods
- Pakistan has been forced to declare a state of emergency as PM Shahbaz Sharif begged for international help
- Monsoon rains typically begin in July but began in June as Mr Sharif blamed ‘the horrors of climate change’
This was the shocking moment a luxurious tourist hotel in Pakistan was swept away by massive floods that have damaged 170,000 homes in the country.
The 150-room New Honeymoon Hotel in Kalam – allegedly Swat’s largest and most famous hotel – had its foundations washed away by the raging water before being swept away completely.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has begged for international help in battling the deadly flooding that has forced the country to declare a state of emergency.
Exceptionally heavy rain has continued lashing Pakistan as the death toll reached 937 since mid-June, over a third of them children.
Monsoon rains typically begin in Pakistan in July but this year they began in June.
The 150-room New Honeymoon Hotel in Kalam – allegedly Swat’s largest and most famous hotel – had its foundations washed away by the raging water before being swept away completely
A video showed the shocking moment the luxurious hotel collapsed into the water. The roof and windows slide away before the building tumbles backwards and nothing appears to remain of the building that stood only moments previously
Incredibly there were no casualties as tourists and staff left the hotel on Wednesday, following government evacuation instructions
The footage posted on Twitter shows the hotel collapsing into the river within mere seconds.
The left side of the building gives way first but moments later the entire structure gives way to the fierce floods.
The roof and windows slide away before the building tumbles backwards and nothing appears to remain of the building that stood only moments previously.
A second angle of the collapse from further away shows people fleeing from the scene as the hotel disintegrates.
Incredibly there were no casualties as tourists and staff left the hotel on Wednesday, following government evacuation instructions.
The deadly floods have hit the impoverished nation hard as rescuers have struggled to evacuate thousands of marooned people.
Floods have damaged 170,000 homes, washed away roads and destroyed nearly 150 bridges, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.
Pakistani flood victims wade through flood water following a flash flood in Mipur Khas town in the south Sindh prince on August 27. The situation has worsened in the Sindh, despite improving in other areas
People evacuated their homes to move to safer areas following the devastation (pictured after a flash flood in Mirpir Khas town on August 27)
Mr Sharif visited flood-hit areas in Sindh province on Friday, assuring flood victims of the government’s support. Pictured: A Pakistani mother and her children after the flash floods in the southern Sindh province
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif tweeted: ‘The ongoing rain spell has caused devastation across the country. Together we will build back better.’
He said the scope of the devastation caused by rains and floods this time was worse than in 2010, when floods killed 1,700 people.
He blamed the ‘horrors of climate change’ for the tragedy.
Later, he met with foreign diplomats and representatives of international aid agencies to brief them about the damage.
A government statement quoted Mr Sharif as saying 300 children were among the dead.
A villager uses cots to save usable items which he salvaged from his flood-hit home in Jaffarabad, a district of Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province on August 27
Rescuers have struggled to evacuate thousands of marooned people. Pictured: Pakistani rescuers evacuate flood victims to safer places following a flash flood in Fazilpur in the southern Punjab province on August 27
Stranded people unload their livestock from a boat after being evacuated from flood-affected areas in Sukkar, Sindh province
People and livestock took to boats to try to escape the flooding in the Sindh province, where Prime Minister Sharif visited to assure victims of the government’s support
Although floodwaters receded in some areas, the situation worsened in Sindh province, where rescue workers were using boats to evacuate people.
Thousands of flood-affected people were living in makeshift homes and tents.
Mr Sharif visited flood-hit areas in Sindh province on Friday, assuring flood victims of the government’s support.
Some 6,500 Pakistani troops are taking part in the search and rescue operations and have so far evacuated more than 40,000 people.
People put on a brave face as they tried to rescue their possessions from the flooding. Pictured is flooding in the Sindh province
Exceptionally heavy rain has continued lashing Pakistan as the death toll reached 937 since mid-June, over a third of them children (pictured: flooding in the Sindh province on August 27)
Monsoon rains typically begin in Pakistan in July but this year they began in June. Displaced people were forced to take refuge along a highway after fleeing their homes in the Charsadda district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan
Children were among those forced to take refuge on the side of the road. The United Nations on Thursday said it has allocated three million dollars (£2.5million) for UN aid agencies and their partners in Pakistan to respond to the floods
The United Nations said on Thursday it has allocated three million dollars (£2.5million) for UN aid agencies and their partners in Pakistan to respond to the floods.
‘This will be used for health, nutrition, food security, and water and sanitation services in flood-affected areas, focusing on the most vulnerable,’ the UN said.
Scientists say climate change is a major factor behind the unusually severe weather, which has made life miserable for millions of people.
According to climate change minister Sherry Rehman, the pressing challenge at the moment was saving lives and arranging tents and food for those left homeless by the floods.
‘This is a humanitarian disaster of epic proportions, thousands are without shelter, many are without food and people are stranded,’ Ms Rehman said.
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