Monsoon floods in Pakistan

Flash floods and landslides in northern Pakistan have killed hundreds and disrupted relief efforts.

Pakistan faces monsoon floods as death toll climbs

Powerful monsoon rains have unleashed flash floods and landslides in northern Pakistan, pushing the death toll past 350. In Buner district, more than 200 people were killed as mountains released a wall of mud and boulders rather than rainwater. Swat, Bajaur, Dir, Shangla, Mansehra and Kohistan were also battered, with rivers swallowing homes, bridges and police outposts. Rescue teams say damaged roads and washed out bridges slow operations, and a government helicopter ferrying relief supplies to Bajaur crash killed all five onboard. The meteorological department warned more rain through August 21, with cloudbursts and glacial lake outbursts still a danger. The disaster echoes the 2022 floods that killed thousands, but this year has moved faster and hit harder. Now the floodwaters are pushing south, threatening areas like Swabi and Mardan as farmers move cattle to higher ground.

Climate change is remaking the timing and violence of the South Asian monsoon. Warmer air holds more moisture, feeding heavier downpours and increasing the risk of sudden, destructive floods. The speed of this disaster exposes gaps in early warning systems, infrastructure and disaster financing. Pakistan faces a difficult question: how to speed up relief without draining budgets or tweaking political priorities under public scrutiny. The cross border implications of the Indus basin mean neighbors feel the impact, urging regional cooperation even amid tensions. Behind the numbers are families losing homes, schools and livelihoods, which heightens the moral obligation to invest in resilience now rather than chase reactive fixes after every crisis.

Highlights

Aid delivery and long term resilience will define the next phase of this disaster.