On 18 April 2023, a
landslide
Landslides, also known as landslips, are several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of environments, ...
occurred in
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
's
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (; ps, خېبر پښتونخوا; Urdu, Hindko: خیبر پختونخوا) commonly abbreviated as KP or KPK, is one of the Administrative units of Pakistan, four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, ...
region. A thunder and lightning storm that occurred caused the landslip, which buried more than 20 trucks and resulted in at least seven fatalities (including two
Afghan nationals)
and dozens more who are thought to be trapped. A crucial border crossing between Pakistan and
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bord ...
, the
Torkham crossing, was shut down as a result of the event.
Background
The flow of people and goods between Pakistan and Afghanistan is made easier by the Torkham crossing, which serves as a vital commerce route between the two nations. Another important route for transportation is the
Karakoram Highway
The Karakoram Highway ( ur, , translit=śāhirāh qarāquram; known by its initials KKH, also known as N-35 or National Highway 35 ( ur, ) or the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway) is a national highway which extends from Hasan Abdal in ...
, which links Gilgit-Baltistan with Islamabad.
According to a statement from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Disaster Management Authority, a landslide on the main road leading to the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan crushed 15 to 20 cargo cars at around 02:00. The incident has seriously hampered connectivity, trade, and transit between the two nations.
Response
The rescue operation involved heavy machinery, including 12 ambulances, 3 recovery vehicles, 4 fire vehicles, and 3 heavy excavators.
Reactions
Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif
Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif (Urdu, Punjabi: , ; born 23 September 1951) is a Pakistani politician and businessman who is currently serving as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, in office since 11 April 2022. He is the current president o ...
expressed his condolences and directed officials to speed up the rescue work and restore the road for traffic as soon as possible.
See also
*
Weather of 2023
The following is a list of weather events that occurred on Earth in the year 2023. The year saw a transition from La Niña to El Niño, with record high global average surface temperatures. The several weather events which had a significant imp ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torkham landslide, 2023
2023 disasters in Pakistan
2023 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
April 2023 events in Pakistan
Disasters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber District
Landslides in 2023
Landslides in Asia
Natural disasters in Pakistan