Pakistan Faces One of Its Deadliest Floods in Recent Years

 

Pakistan is once again reeling from a climate-fuelled disaster. Severe monsoon rains have unleashed widespread destruction across the northern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – including Buner, Shangla, Swat, Dir, Bajaur, Battagram, and Mansehra. Entire valleys have been inundated by flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, and mudslides, leaving behind a trail of devastation.

 

The human toll is staggering:

• More than 645 confirmed fatalities nationwide
• Over 900 people injured, with numbers expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue
• Thousands of families displaced from their homes
• Entire villages cut off due to collapsed roads and washed-out bridges
• Crops, livestock, and shelters destroyed, leaving families without food or livelihoods

District Buner has been hit hardest, reporting over 180 deaths and dozens of injuries. Infrastructure has been severely damaged, with roads impassable, bridges swept away, and communication networks down in many affected areas. Rescue helicopters have also struggled due to dangerous weather, further complicating relief operations by Islamic Relief Pakistan. 

 

 

 

 

A Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The floods have not only claimed lives but also stripped families of their homes, livelihoods, and sense of security. In rural districts, where agriculture and livestock are the primary sources of income, the destruction of farmland and animals has left families without any means to recover.

 

Children, women, and the elderly remain the most vulnerable. With health services overwhelmed and clean water in short supply, there is an increased risk of disease outbreaks. Displaced families are sheltering in overcrowded temporary camps or makeshift shelters, with little access to basic necessities.

 

Experts have once again highlighted how climate change is intensifying Pakistan’s vulnerability. The country, despite contributing very little to global carbon emissions, remains among the most climate-affected nations. Repeated cycles of flooding, drought, and heatwaves continue to undermine resilience, trapping millions of people in cycles of poverty and displacement.