At least 37 die in Pakistan mudslide

Flash flooding caused a mountain of mud to roar down on dozens of homes in northwest Pakistan, killing at least 37 people and injuring 58 others. Many others were still missing, police said.

As torrential rains pounded large parts of northern and central Pakistan, the government issued urgent appeals to people living close to rivers and canals to leave their homes.

The worst-hit area was Mansehra district, where pounding rains sent rivers of mud burying homes in a tiny village called old Dada, 66 miles north of the capital Islamabad.

Rescue workers said they expect the death toll to rise even further. Many of the wounded are in critical condition.

Bodies were being dug out from beneath mountains of mud. Other bodies were dragged downstream by the raging current. Several bodies have been pulled out of the swollen rivers, said rescue workers.

The monsoon season in Pakistan started earlier this year after a prolonged dry-spell.