Monsoon rains fall in Pakistan every summer, but the rains in June and July 2010 were unusually heavy, bringing more than a foot of rain. By Aug. 1, whole villages had washed away, more than 1,600 people had died, 6 million had lost their homes, and about 20 million people were affected, according to news reports. A shortage of safe drinking water and a possible outbreak of cholera were among the most pressing dangers.
The flooding in northwestern Pakistan was the worst since 1929, officials said. Just in the first week, news reports documented some 30,000 residents stranded on rooftops, and dozens of bridges completely washed away. Some estimates placed total damages from the flooding at US $15 billion.
