More than 200 people have been killed in devastating flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains across Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The latest disaster underscores the growing vulnerability of the region to extreme weather events, which scientists warn are being intensified by climate change.
According to disaster authorities, the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in north-western Pakistan has been the worst hit, accounting for most of the deaths. Entire villages have been swept away, with at least 30 homes destroyed. In a further tragedy, a rescue helicopter deployed to assist victims crashed in Bajaur due to bad weather, killing all five crew members on board.
The floods have also taken lives in other regions, with nine fatalities reported in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and five in Gilgit-Baltistan in the north. Thousands have been displaced, and several areas have been declared disaster zones as the government warned of continued heavy rainfall until at least 21 August.
Survivors described the horror of the floods. In Buner, a resident told AFP that the deluge came with an apocalyptic roar. “I heard a loud noise as if the mountain was sliding,” said Azizullah. “The ground was trembling due to the force of the water, and it felt like death was staring me in the face.”
Grieving families have begun burying loved ones in makeshift funerals as rescue operations continue under difficult conditions. In Bajaur, crowds gathered around excavators digging through mud-soaked hillsides, hoping to find survivors.
The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has declared a day of mourning, while appeals for aid and assistance are mounting.
The floods come as South Asia endures yet another destructive monsoon season. Between June and September, the region receives about three-quarters of its annual rainfall, often causing widespread landslides and flooding. This year alone, more than 300 people across Pakistan have already died in rain-related disasters.
In July, Punjab province home to nearly half of Pakistan’s 255 million people recorded 73% more rainfall than last year, along with higher casualties than the entire previous monsoon season.
Experts warn that the intensity and frequency of such disasters are a clear sign of climate change, with Pakistan among the countries most at risk despite contributing little to global emissions.
