| 2023 Torkham landslide | |
| Duration: | 18 April 2023 |
| Location: | Torkham, Khyber District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Deaths: | 7[1] |
| Missing: | "dozens" |
| Cause: | Thunder and lightning storm |
On 18 April 2023, a landslide occurred in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 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)[2] and dozens more who are thought to be trapped. A crucial border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Torkham crossing, was shut down as a result of the event.[3]
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, which links Gilgit-Baltistan with Islamabad.[4] [5]
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.[6] The incident has seriously hampered connectivity, trade, and transit between the two nations.[3]
The rescue operation involved heavy machinery, including 12 ambulances, 3 recovery vehicles, 4 fire vehicles, and 3 heavy excavators.[7] [8]
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences and directed officials to speed up the rescue work and restore the road for traffic as soon as possible.[7]