Monsoon floods in Pakistan kill 220

Buner, Pakistan, flood devastation has killed 220 people and rescuers search for survivors as more rain is forecast.

Monsoon floods in Pakistan kill 220 as rescue work continues

In Buner district, floods have killed at least 220 people, and officials say 63 more bodies were recovered overnight as rescue teams search through villages hit by flash floods and landslides in Pir Baba and Malik Pura. Dozens of homes were swept away when floodwaters carried boulders down from the hills, forcing residents to climb to higher ground. Officials warn that rainfall will continue in the coming days and crews remain on high alert.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts torrential rain and says monsoon activity could intensify further. Officials note that higher-than-normal rainfall this year is linked by scientists to climate change, contributing to floods and mudslides across the region. The broader toll in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and nearby Gilgit-Baltistan rises as authorities press on with relief operations and assess damaged roads and infrastructure.

This disaster shows how climate change is shaping the region’s monsoon pattern, turning heavy rain into deadly floods when homes sit in vulnerable valleys. Rapid rescue, safe evacuations, and timely information are life-saving in the hours after a deluge. The immediate challenge is speed and reach of aid to remote communities.

Beyond the emergency, the episode tests governance and funding. Officials promise road repairs and relief, but budgets are stretched and relief work must be coordinated across districts. The event underscores the need for better early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and stronger regional cooperation to reduce future losses.

Highlights

Aid and planning must move faster than the next storm