A luxurious tourist hotel in Pakistan has been 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 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.
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The roof and windows slide away before the building tumbles backward 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.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday expressed concern about the deadly flooding in Pakistan.
At least 33 million people have been affected with more than 1,000 confirmed dead from severe rain and flooding, the worst natural disaster in the South Asian nation’s history.
The floods have also washed away hundreds of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure in the country
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said Nigerians would continue to pray for Pakistan and its people as they confront “this humanitarian disaster of epic proportions.”
He appealed to the United Nations and other aid agencies to take urgent steps to assist people without shelter and food as well as the millions who required urgent humanitarian relief.
Daily Mail
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