Pakistan floods cost US$ 9.7 billion

Authorities in Pakistan have announced that the floods that ravaged the country in August have caused an estimated US$9.7 billion in damage to houses, roads, farms and other parts of the southwestern Asian country.



The World Bank and Asian Development Bank, which made the announcement, said the preliminary figure was arrived at after a survey examining damage in 15 key sectors across Pakistan.



The heavy rains began in early August, and floodwaters continued to rage in the countryside more than seven weeks later.



Pakistani authorities have said that the floods left more than 1,700 people dead, while leaving more than 20 million displaced.