Pakistan PM visits areas devastated by floods

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif asked Friday for international help in battling deadly flood damage in the impoverished Islamic nation as rescuers struggled to evacuate thousands of marooned people from flood-hit areas.

Sharif's appeal on Twitter came as exceptionally heavy rain continued lashing Pakistan and the death toll reached 937 since mid-June. A government statement quoted Sharif as saying 300 children were among the dead.

Sharif visited flood-hit areas in Sindh province on Friday, assuring flood victims of the government's support. Some 6,500 Pakistani troops are taking part in the search and rescue operations and have so far evacuated more than 40,000 people.

Floods have damaged 170,000 homes, washed away roads and destroyed nearly 150 bridges, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.