Torrential monsoon rains have unleashed flash floods in northwest Pakistan, causing widespread destruction and disrupting daily life across several districts. Homes, roads, and farmland have been swept away, while rescue operations face repeated setbacks due to relentless downpours and landslides. Authorities have warned of more heavy rainfall in the coming days, heightening fears of further damage in vulnerable areas. The disaster has once again drawn attention to Pakistan’s struggle with extreme weather events and the mounting risks of climate change.
1 / 5Death Toll and Impact | Over 300 people have been killed in northwest Pakistan since Friday, August 15, after torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides. Buner district was the worst affected, with at least 277 deaths, while more than 150 people remain missing. Flash floods also struck Swabi district on Monday, August 18, killing 15 people and forcing the evacuation of nearly 100 residents. Nationwide, monsoon rains since late June have claimed at least 645 lives, including 400 in the northwest. (Image: Reuters)
2 / 5Rescue and Relief Operations | Rescue and relief operations were briefly halted on Monday due to fresh downpours but later resumed with the help of army engineers, disaster management teams, and local officials using heavy machinery. Relief supplies, including food, medicine, blankets, tents, pumps, and generators, have been dispatched. The UN and aid agencies have also mobilised assistance, with damages estimated at over Rs 126 million ($450,000). (Image: Reuters)
3 / 5Ground Challenges | Survivors described the devastation as “doomsday-like,” with homes, roads, and vehicles swept away. Villagers accused authorities of failing to issue evacuation warnings, while officials argued that the cloudburst and sudden deluge left little time to respond. Local leaders also blamed unsafe housing along waterways for the high casualties, and the government has pledged to help displaced families rebuild in safer areas. (Image: Reuters)
4 / 5Weather Outlook | Buner was hit by a rare cloudburst that dumped more than 150 mm of rain within an hour. Officials have warned that heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected across Pakistan until early September, raising fears of further flooding. The disaster has also affected neighbouring India-administered Kashmir, where at least 67 people were killed. (Image: Reuters)
5 / 5Global Response | Global leaders, including the UN Secretary-General and Pope Leo XIV, expressed condolences. The tragedy has once again highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-driven disasters, echoing the catastrophic floods of 2022 that killed nearly 1,700 people. (Image: Reuters)
