Flash

Markets occasionally dump a bucket of icy water on everyone at once, and on Oct. 10, it was the cryptocurrency sector’s turn. In the late afternoon, President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs on China, and then a total panic exploded in crypto. For a few terrifying minutes, prices looked like trapdoors into oblivion, wiping hundreds of billions of dollars off the sector’s market cap.

Flash crashes like these are obviously extremely uncomfortable for investors, but they’re clarifying because they expose weak financial plumbing, miscalibrated risk-taking habits, and shaky narratives. They also give long-term investors a checklist for what to do next. Here’s what you need to know, and what you need to do.

Image source: Getty Images.

What just happened

The catalyst for the flash crash had little to do with crypto itself, as the sector is largely unrelated to the flow of trade with China, which the newly threatened tariffs would affect. As the weekend unfolded, Trump and his advisors subsequently softened their tone, which helped markets to stabilize. But the damage was already done.

Prices fell shockingly fast. Bitcoin (BTC -3.26%) dropped by more than 12% from the prior week’s peak before rebounding somewhat. Ethereum (ETH -4.06%) slid by even more at the worst point.

Meme coins and altcoins were utterly shellacked. Dogecoin (DOGE -4.80%) briefly cratered by about 50% before stabilizing. Tokens outside the very largest cohort fell even harder. The crypto publication CoinDesk cited a 33% drop across the board for non-BTC, non-ETH assets, with many losing 80% or more, and a small handful losing close to 99.9% of their value in the same very short period.

The scale of this crash was historic. But why did it cascade so badly? Start with leverage.

The market was primed for a massive unwinding by a recent boom in the leveraged trading of perpetual futures in a handful of new decentralized exchanges (DEXes), and highly leveraged activity across the existing set of centralized exchanges (CEXes). Roughly $19 billion of forced liquidations of leveraged positions across DEX and CEX venues have been reported so far, which is the largest on record by a very large margin. The mechanism here was that the initial price shock caused by the tariff announcement caused a huge number of leveraged positions to blow up and get roughly simultaneously liquidated by the exchanges.

Then came problems with liquidity. Reports indicate that as exchanges were in the process of liquidating those leveraged positions, their own collateral used for borrowing was becoming worthless quite rapidly. This in turn caused some market makers to step back from providing their services to altcoins as volatility exploded amid the liquidations, leaving thin order books and allowing absurd air-pockets in pricing.

That’s likely why the downward price action became so intense so quickly. Without any liquidity available on tap for exchanges or market makers, and without any buyers at most of the prevailing prices, even a small amount of selling activity can create large price moves — and there was a lot of selling. There’s also some evidence that some of the crypto exchanges’ data oracles responsible for being authoritative sources of pricing information seized up or failed in the midst of this process. This heightened fear across both centralized and decentralized venues.

Separately, there is a significant amount of chatter alleging that an insider had advance knowledge of Trump’s new tariff policy announcement and took out a very large short position on Bitcoin in advance, pocketing around $200 million in the resulting crash. These allegations are not proven, though they rhyme with previous instances suspiciously perfectly timed trading in advance of tariff-related crypto market dumps. 

However, it’s important to recognize that Bitcoin was actually the least affected asset during this event, and that its price activity was not really a major contributor to the cascade downward in and of itself.

What long-term investors should do next

The big lessons from the flash crash are simple, and they will age well.

First, do not use leverage to own crypto. Leverage turns both routine and exceptional volatility events into portfolio-destroying liquidations. Blue-chip cryptos like Solana, XRP, Chainlink, and Dogecoin can gap down hard in minutes when liquidity thins. Many traders (or short-term investors) using conservative amounts of leverage — less than 2X — were liquidated right alongside the gamblers levered to 100X.

Second, keep the bulk of your exposure restricted to crypto majors like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Chainlink. Bitcoin held up well, and large chains reported a swift rebound as the tariff rhetoric cooled. The fact that they have a real investment thesis that exists independent of market phenomena helps significantly, too.

Finally, stick to the long game. The flash crash revealed what was fragile. What it did not change is the multi-year thesis for the majors, which depends on adoption, infrastructure, and policy clarity. If you build your allocations around that reality, you will be positioned to survive and benefit.

BRAVE Amanda Holden takes to the Britain’s Got Talent red carpet wearing the top that almost saw her flash the show’s audience at auditions.

But an onlooker said the 54-year-old “was being much more careful this time round.”

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Show judge Amanda — in a lop-sided strapless top — nearly exposed herself by lifting her left arm to wave at the crowd as she strutted on stage at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Saturday.

After adjusting her clothes to preserve her modesty she sat down.

Then, gesturing to her boob, she admitted: “This keeps slipping out every time I raise my arms.”

Yesterday The Sun revealed a small production team were quickly put on “nipple watch” to ensure there were no surprise appearances during filming of the ITV ­talent contest.

Undeterred, Amanda wore the strapless top again.

Our observer reported: “She waved with her left hand, where her top had more coverage than on the right-hand side, and kept her other hand firmly in her pocket most of the time.

“Amanda didn’t want any wardrobe malfunctions again. She was probably already feeling the chill in blustery Blackpool.”

Also dressed for sunnier climes was head judge Simon Cowell in shades, and fellow panellist Alesha Dixon wearing sunglasses and a crop-top.

Only hosts Ant and Dec and new judge KSI — taking over from Bruno Tonioli — looked ready for Lancashire weather.

Auditions for the 19th series of BGT, due to air next year, continue in the seaside town until the end of this week.

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Heavy rains continue to disrupt rescue operations in the Himalayan nation as authorities struggle to respond to the crisis.

Landslides and flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, have killed at least 47 people, blocked roads and washed away bridges in Nepal.

Thirty-five people were killed in separate landslides in the Ilam district in the east bordering India, Kalidas Dhauboji, a spokesperson for the Armed Police Force, said on Sunday.

Nine people were missing after being washed away by floods since Friday and three others were killed in lightning strikes elsewhere in Nepal, he added, as relentless downpours pummelled eastern and central regions of the Himalayan nation.

“Rescue efforts for the missing persons are going on,” said Shanti Mahat, a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority spokesperson in Nepal.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays nationwide, exempting emergency services and disaster response teams, as the government battles the crisis.

Government spokesperson Rameshwar Dangal cited forecasts of heavy rains as justification for the unusual measure.

Meteorological authorities have also placed more than a dozen districts on red alert, with department chief Kamal Ram Joshi warning the residents near waterways to evacuate immediately, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.

The alert covers major population centres, including parts of the capital, Kathmandu, with Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Madhesh provinces expected to bear the brunt of continued downpours through Monday morning.

Transport infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, with landslides cutting all major routes into Kathmandu.

The Araniko Highway connecting Kathmandu to China’s border is blocked after road collapses at multiple points, while the BP Highway linking the eastern regions is buried under debris.

Aviation authorities suspended domestic flights on Saturday due to poor visibility, though international operations continued with some disruptions.

“Domestic flights are largely disrupted, but international flights are operating normally,” said Rinji Sherpa, a spokesperson for Kathmandu airport.

The crisis has been compounded by its timing, striking as hundreds of thousands of people return from their homes following the Dashain celebrations, Nepal’s most important religious festival. Thursday was the main day of the two-week festival when people travel to their native villages to visit their families.

Of particular concern is the Koshi River in southeastern Nepal, where water levels have surged to more than twice their normal volume.

Local official Dharmendra Kumar Mishra confirmed that all 56 sluice gates at the Koshi Barrage have been opened – compared with the usual 10 to 12 – while authorities consider restricting heavy vehicles from crossing its bridge.

The river regularly causes devastating flooding in India’s Bihar state during the monsoons.

In the eastern Indian hill region of Darjeeling in West Bengal state, at least seven people were killed due to landslides following heavy rainfall, according to local media reports.

“Seven dead bodies have already been recovered from the debris. We have information about two more people. Work is being done to recover their bodies too,” Abhishek Roy, a Darjeeling district police official said on Sunday, the Reuters news agency reported.

Hundreds of people die every year in landslides and flash floods that are common in mostly mountainous Nepal during the monsoon season, which normally starts in mid-June and continues through mid-September.

More than 300 people have died in Pakistan after days of relentless monsoon rains triggered floods and landslides. Rescue efforts are still underway as thousands remain stranded, as homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods have been devastated.

Rescuers in northern Pakistan have pulled dozens of bodies overnight from homes ravaged by landslides and flash floods, taking the death toll to at least 321 in the past two days, according to disaster agencies.

Hundreds of rescue workers continue to search for survivors in the Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan after torrential rains and cloudbursts caused massive flooding on Friday, washing away dozens of homes, according to the provincial Disaster Management Authority.

First responders are focusing recovery efforts in the villages of Pir Baba and Malik Pura, which suffered the highest casualties on Friday, according to Bunar deputy commissioner Kashif Qayyum.

“We do not know from where the floodwater came, but it came so fast that many could not leave their homes,” said Mohammad Khan, 53, a Pir Baba resident.

Dr Mohammad Tariq at a Buner government hospital reported that most victims died before reaching medical care. “Many among the dead were children and men, while women were away in the hills collecting firewood and grazing cattle,” he said.

At least 307 casualties are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Above-average rainfall in Pakistan, which experts attribute to climate change, has triggered floods and mudslides that have killed approximately 541 people since June 2, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.

In neighbouring Indian-administered Kashmir, floods have killed dozens and displaced hundreds in recent days.

Experts note that cloudbursts have become increasingly common in India’s Himalayan regions and Pakistan’s northern areas, with climate change being a significant contributing factor.

Pakistani officials report that since Thursday, rescuers have evacuated more than 3,500 tourists stranded in flood-affected areas nationwide, though many tourists continue to ignore government warnings to avoid these regions despite the risk of additional landslides and flash floods.

In 2022, Pakistan experienced its worst monsoon season on record, killing more than 1,700 people and causing approximately $40bn in damage.

Disaster agency says the majority of deaths happened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in northwest Pakistan.

The death toll from heavy monsoon rains that have triggered landslides and flash floods across northern Pakistan has risen to at least 164 people, according to the disaster authority.

Most of the deaths, 150, were recorded in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, including 78 people who died in the flood-hit Buner district, the National Disaster Management Authority said on Friday.

Later, a helicopter on a rescue mission in the flood-hit province crashed due to the bad weather, killing the five crew members, the government said.

Reporting from Islamabad, Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder said the helicopter was a military aircraft.

“This was a Pakistani military helicopter that was involved in a rescue operation. Helicopters are being used to help people in areas that are hard to access,” he said.

Hundreds evacuated

Dozens of people were injured as the deluge destroyed homes in villages in Buner, where authorities declared a state of emergency on Friday.

Rescuers evacuated 1,300 stranded tourists from the mountainous Mansehra district, which was hit by landslides on Thursday. At least 35 people were reported missing in these areas, according to local officials.

Nine more people were killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir while five died in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, authorities said.

The Meteorological Department issued a heavy rain alert for the northwest, urging people to avoid “unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas”.

Floods in India-administered Kashmir

The annual monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, which is vital for agriculture and food security but also brings destruction.

Landslides and flash floods are common during the season, which usually begins in June and eases by the end of September.

In India-administered Kashmir, rescuers continued to search for survivors under boulders and debris on Friday, a day after sudden floods triggered by heavy rains killed at least 60 people and left 200 missing.

Gushing mudslides and floodwaters inundated the village of Chasoti on Thursday, washing away pilgrims who had gathered for lunch before trekking up a hill to a popular religious site in the second such disaster in the Himalayas in a little more than a week.

The Himalayas are prone to floods and landslides, but some scientists said the intensity and frequency of these events are increasing due to climate change.

Torrential rain struck Chisoti, a town in Kishtwar district in Indian-administered Kashmir, on Thursday morning.

At least 37 people have been killed after a sudden cloudburst unleashed torrential rain in Indian-administered Kashmir, a disaster management official said, marking the second major disaster in the Himalayas in just over a week.

The deluge struck Chisoti, a town in Kishtwar district, on Thursday morning. The site serves as a key stop along the pilgrimage route to the Machail Mata temple, a revered Himalayan shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga.

Television footage showed terrified pilgrims crying as water surged through the settlement.

Omar Abdullah, chief minister of the federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, described the situation as “grim” and said confirmed details were slow to emerge from the remote location.

Mohammed Irshad said rescue teams scouring the devastated Himalayan village of Chositi brought at least 100 people to safety.

“Dead bodies of 37 people have been recovered,” said Irshad, a top disaster management official, adding there was no count of any missing people available.

According to Ramesh Kumar, divisional commissioner of Kishtwar, the cloudburst hit at about 11:30am local time. He told ANI news agency that police and disaster response teams were on the ground, while army and air force units had also been mobilised. “Search and rescue operations are under way,” Kumar said.

An official, who asked not to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media, said the flood swept away a community kitchen and a security post set up to serve pilgrims. “A large number of pilgrims had gathered for lunch and they were washed away,” the official told the news agency Reuters.

The India Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as a sudden, extreme downpour exceeding 100mm of rain in an hour, often triggering flash floods and landslides in mountainous regions during the monsoon.

Last week, a similar disaster in Uttarakhand, another Himalayan state, buried an entire village under mud and debris after heavy rains.

The Srinagar weather office has warned of further intense rainfall in several parts of Kashmir, including Kishtwar, and urged residents to avoid unstable structures, power lines and old trees due to the risk of fresh landslides and flash floods.

Cleaning products can be a hidden cost when running a household, so if you find a good deal it can really help save money.

Right now, you can get the Flash Speedmop Floor Cleaner Starter Kit for almost half price, as it’s reduced from £25 to £13.

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Flash Speedmop Floor Cleaner
Starter Kit £13 (was £22)

Hard floors like wood and laminate may be slightly easier to clean than carpet, but it can still take effort to tackle stuck-on food and dirt.

If you favour specific brands for your cleaning products,  and you’re not heading to Amazon for deals on them, you could be paying more than you need to.

A mop is a basic cleaning necessity but the Flash Speedmop is an easy to use, mess-free alternative.

The starter pack comes with the mop itself, plus 8 wet cloths for spills and stubborn stains and 15 dry cloths for dust and dirt.

All you have to do to set us is connect the poles, and attach a sheet to the mop head.

The head swivels, so you can clean difficult areas, like beneath sofas and under furniture.

A Flash Speedmop is more convenient than the traditional mop, needing no water or cleaning fluid, and offering easy disposal.

The main difference is that you need to keep stocked up on the cloths, which is why the current deal is so handy.

Buying from Amazon also means home delivery, so when you run out you won’t have to rush to a supermarket.

Over 7,000 shoppers have left reviews on the Speedmop, which has now become an Amazon bestseller.

One shopper said: ‘’The Flash SpeedMop is incredibly easy to use and convenient, which makes it great for busy mums or anyone looking to speed up their cleaning.’’

‘’The spray mechanism is handy, and the pre-moistened pads really help cut down on the effort needed to get floors sparkling clean.’’

‘’Many users find it effective on both sticky messes and light dusting, especially in high-traffic areas.’’

Another shopper added: ‘’Wow this is so good – easy to fit and to store, takes up virtually no room.’’

‘’It cleans up brilliantly and wow the dirt it picks up, also the lemon smell is really nice, and the floor dries really fast.’’

Flash Speedmop Floor Cleaner
Starter Kit £13 (was £22)

If you want to deep clean your carpet and need recommendations on which vacuum cleaners to buy, check out our pick of the best vacuum cleaners.

Or, if you consider ironing one of your least favourite household chores, I swear by this Amazon clothes steamer for a much easier solution to crease-free clothes.

Aug. 13 (UPI) — Heavy rains caused flash flooding in Chattanooga and surrounding areas Tuesday that has inundated roads, triggered an emergency declaration and sent rescue workers scrambling as they try to rescue stranded residents.

Nearly 6 1/2 inches of rain fell at the Chattanooga Airport, according to the National Weather Service, making it the second-wettest day on record for the southeastern Tennessee city of about 192,000.

The rain shut down a stretch of Interstate 24 that runs through the city, flooding it over 3 feet of water, according to a post on X by the state Department of Transportation.

Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett said during a press conference that he had never seen such widespread flooding that had such a severe impact on travel, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

“I’ve seen flooding throughout my career all over the county,” he said. “It’s typically concentrated in one area. This is extremely widespread. It made it difficult for us to even get here ourselves to try to help other people.”

The sheriff’s office posted photos to X showing cars completely swamped with brown flood water. Another post urged divers to stay put if they were in a safe location and to not attempt to drive over flooded roadways.

A video posted by the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security shows rescue teams wearing headlamps pushing a raft up to a building to rescue in a building.

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp announced a state of emergency in response to the floods. He said in the announcement that his office has been in touch with state authorities and will continue to assess the damage overnight and into the morning.

Aug. 10 (UPI) — Rescue workers and emergency crews are responding to life-threatening flash flooding in the wake of record rainfall in Wisconsin, and more rain is in the forecast for Sunday night, officials said.

Officials were forced to close the Wisconsin State Fair early as nearly 8 inches of rain soaked Milwaukee and surrounding areas overnight Saturday, according to the National Weather Service, a record for two-day rainfall, prompting flood alerts and a disaster declaration.

Local officials reported even more rain than the official totals reported by the NWS. Milwaukee mayor Cavalier Johnson said some parts of the city had received as much as a foot of rain.

Fair organizers canceled a concert by Lynyrd Skynyrd on Saturday night and closed the fairgrounds early as rain continued to soak the area and severe weather created dangerous conditions for fairgoers.

The 11-day fair remained closed Sunday, the final day of the annual event, and social media posts showed cars partially submerged as attendees scrambled to leave the event.

Parts of Wauwatosa, just north of Milwaukee, was especially hard hit and many parts of the town remained under water Sunday morning, WISN reported.

Along the Menomonee River, police used loudspeakers and word of mouth to inform people that a popular sports complex was closed, and asked visitors to leave.

There were widespread road closures and power outages as a result of the severe weather, but as of Sunday afternoon, no weather-related deaths or serious injuries had been reported.

Firefighters responded to at least 614 emergency calls between 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday, the Milwaukee Fire Department reported.

President Xi Jinping orders ‘all-out’ rescue operations to save the missing people, CCTV says.

At least 10 people have been killed and 33 are missing in flash floods in northwestern China’s Gansu province, according to state media.

“From August 7, continuous heavy rain … has triggered flash floods. As of 3:30pm (07:30 GMT) on August 8, 10 people have died and 33 are missing,” state broadcaster CCTV reported on Friday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered “all-out” rescue operations with “utmost effort” to save the missing people, CCTV said.

Due to the “frequent occurrence of extreme weather”, Xi ordered all regions to “resolutely overcome complacency” and strengthen efforts to identify risks, the broadcaster added.

Footage shared by Chinese fire authorities on the social media platform Weibo showed rescuers guiding people through rushing grey water in a village.

Photos posted by Gansu’s government showed roads covered in silt and large stones.

Record rainfall has lashed China’s north and south in recent weeks in what meteorologists describe as extreme weather linked to climate change.

Heavy rains and flooding have killed at least 60 people across northern China, including Beijing, since late July.

Thunderstorms triggered flash floods in New York City and New Jersey on Monday, stranding commuters and motorists. The downpour was the city’s second-wettest hour in history, with more than two inches of rain. Authorities say two people were killed in New Jersey when their vehicle was swept away.

July 14 (UPI) — A New Jersey state of emergency went into effect Monday night as heavy rains drenched the Eastern United States, causing flash flooding, including in New York City.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement the state of emergency went into effect at 8 p.m. EDT “due to flash flooding and severe thunderstorms across the state.”

“I urge New Jerseyans to exercise caution, follow all safety protocols and remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.”

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for Newark Liberty International Airport due to the weather.

Mayor Jonathan Busch of Metuchen, located in Middlesex County, said on social media that the borough was “experiencing significant flooding.” Local police had closed multiple roads and were transporting stranded motorists to the local high school, he said.

In New Providence, local officials were warning residents to stay home, even though the rain had stopped.

“Historic rainfall, please stay in and off the roads,” Mayor Al Morgan said on Facebook.

In New York, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was reporting on X that multiple subway lines were suspended due to flooding. Videos circulating online showed water flowing like a river through subway stations and into occupied cars.

New York City Emergency Management said flash flood warnings were in effect for all five boroughs. It said New York City was being lashed with heavy rains and up to 2 or more inches of rain may fall “quickly.”

“Flooding can be deadly and often strikes with little or no warning,” it said.

“If you live in a basement apartment or low-lying area, be ready to move to high ground. Keep your Go Bag near the door and clear exit paths.”

The Bay Area family of a former San Francisco Giants pitcher is among those still missing following a devastating flash flood in Central Texas that killed more than 100 people last week.

Hundreds gathered for a vigil Sunday in Marin County for Mark Walker, Sara Walker and their 14-year-old son, Johnny. The Kentfield family was visiting their vacation home in Hunt in Central Texas when the disaster struck.

Mark is the older brother of Tyler Walker, who played for the Giants between 2004 and 2008.

Mark’s mother, Kathy, told the San Francisco Chronicle that Mark’s 16-year-old daughter, Ellie, was attending nearby Camp Waldemar and was rescued. The family last heard from Mark on Thursday and later found out that the family’s home along the Guadalupe River washed away in the flood.

“I’m sick to my stomach,” Kathy told the Chronicle. “It’s a terrible feeling, because you’re helpless here.”

Mark’s son, Johnny, was going to be a freshman at Marin Catholic High School. The school released a statement, saying that a prayer service would be held Tuesday evening.

“In heartbreaking times like this, we turn to God and to prayer for the Walker family and all the victims of the devastating floods in Texas. We are still praying for a miracle in hopes that Ellie will be reunited with her mom, dad and brother,” according to the statement.

Friday’s flash flooding also claimed the lives of more than two dozen people at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls summer camp along the Guadalupe River. At least 27 campers and counselors died and as of Monday, 10 campers and a counselor are still missing.

Texas officials are facing backlash over whether they adequately prepared for and warned residents of the life-threatening weather conditions in the area known as “flash flood alley.”

Flash floods and roof collapses over past 36 hours have claimed 19 lives, increasing total toll to 32, authorities say.

Heavy rain and flash flooding across Pakistan have killed 32 people since the start of the monsoon season earlier this week, according to the disaster management officials.

Flash floods and roof collapses over the past 36 hours have claimed the lives of 19 people, eight of them children, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial disaster management authority said in a statement on Saturday.

Of the total deaths, 13 were reported in the Swat Valley.

At least 13 people have been killed in the eastern province of Punjab since Wednesday, the area’s disaster management authority said.

Eight of the deaths were children, who died when walls and roofs collapsed during heavy rain.

Flash flood risk remains

Flooding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also damaged 56 houses, six of which were destroyed, the disaster authority said.

The national meteorological service warned that the risk of heavy rain and possible flash floods will remain high until at least Tuesday.

Last month, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms in the South Asian nation, which experienced several extreme weather events in the spring, including strong hailstorms.

Pakistan is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its 240 million inhabitants are facing extreme weather events with increasing frequency.

Nine people from one extended family were killed at the Swat River, while others died in rain-related incidents elsewhere.

Flash floods have killed at least nine people in northern Pakistan after pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of individuals.

District administrator Shehzad Mahboob said on Friday that the nine people who were killed were from one extended family of 16 who were visiting the area and having a picnic breakfast by the Swat River, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Mahboob explained that children from the family were in the water taking photos when the flood occurred, relatives rushed in to save them, but were trapped in the deluge, which was exacerbated by the monsoon rains.

Nine bodies had been recovered, with four members of the family still missing, while another four were rescued, Mahboob said.

Earlier on Friday, Shah Fahad, a spokesperson for the provincial emergency service, said nearly 100 rescuers in various groups rescued 58 people and were looking for the tourists who had been swept away.

Fahad called on the public to strictly adhere to earlier government warnings about a possible flash flood in the Swat River, a popular destination for tourists in the summer and winter.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “expressed his grief over the tourists’ deaths”, a statement from his office said.

Sharif added that he had called on authorities to strengthen safety measures near rivers and streams.

Meanwhile, according to rescue officials, at least 10 people were killed in rain-related incidents in eastern Punjab and southern Sindh provinces over the past 24 hours.

Since the beginning of the week, heavy rains have battered parts of Pakistan, including blocking highways and damaging homes.

According to weather forecasters, rains are expected to continue this week as the country’s annual monsoon season, which runs from July through September, begins.

However, weather forecasters are predicting less rain to fall in Pakistan during the monsoon season this year compared with 2022, when the intense rainfall flooded rivers, killing 1,739 people.