ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- More than 1,400 people died and 895,000 homes were destroyed in flooding that has devastated Pakistan for more than two weeks, government officials said Monday.
Pakistan's Disaster Authority said about a fifth of the country was underwater, at least 1,463 people died and about 900,000 were homeless, CNN reported.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who toured the country with President Asif Ali Zardari, said the monsoon-driven flooding in Pakistan was worse than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 Pakistani earthquake combined.
"Thousands of towns and villages have simply been washed away," Ban said. "Roads, buildings, bridges, crops -- millions of livelihoods have been lost. People are marooned on tiny islands with the floodwaters all around them. They are drinking dirty water. They are living in the mud and ruins of their lives. Many have lost family and friends. Many more are afraid their children and loved ones will not survive in these conditions". UPI
