Pakistan struggles to bring aid to survivors after dam burst

"The search and relief operations for flood affected people are still underway," provincial minister for coastal areas Sher Jan told AFP.

An army transport plane was due to bring food, tents, medicines and blankets to the worst-hit areas Saturday, he said.

A wall of melted snow and rainwater ruptured the Shadi Kor dam near the coastal town of Pasni in southwestern Baluchistan province late Thursday, washing away people, houses, cars and buses in its path.

Residents in the disaster zone, which is about 600km from the provincial capital Quetta, also said many people were missing. Some may have headed for nearby mountains for shelter, the minister added.

"People are sitting on the roof tops of their homes and we are providing them food," said Khawaja Siddiq Akbar, special secretary to the provincial chief minister.

The military led a huge operation to search for survivors and provide aid to around 25,000 to 30,000 people in 35 villages left homeless by the deluge, Sher Jan told a news conference late Friday.

Many others lost crops and cattle, he said.

Using helicopters and boats, the army and navy had rescued 2,000 people in the worst-hit villages of Sindhi Puso, Turati, Kurki, Zar Khor and Sharnu Bazar, he said. Parts of Pasni itself were also hit.