18 dead in Pakistan flash floods

AP :

Flash floods triggered by pre-monsoon rains swept away dozens of tourists in northwest Pakistan on Friday, leaving at least eight dead, as the nationwide death toll from rain-related incidents rose to 18 over the past 24 hours, officials said.

Nearly 100 rescuers were deployed to search for missing tourists swept away while picnicking along the Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to Shah Fahad, a spokesman for the provincial emergency service, as reported by AP.

Fahad said only three people belonging to an extended family of 16 could be rescued, while the others remain missing.