Deadly Flash Floods Devastate Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Over 330 Killed and Hundreds Missing

Published: 18th August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

Rescue operations are underway across Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after catastrophic flash floods claimed at least 337 lives and left nearly 150 people missing, authorities reported. The disasters, triggered by sudden cloudbursts and relentless monsoon downpours, struck the mountainous Buner district on Friday, causing widespread flooding and landslides that devastated villages and towns.

Emergency teams, including five army helicopters, have been mobilized to locate survivors and provide urgent assistance to the affected areas. Provincial authorities confirmed that 54 bodies had been recovered in Buner alone, while scores of families remain desperately searching for missing relatives amid debris and collapsed homes. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his deep sorrow over the calamity and announced that all government resources were being deployed to support rescue and relief operations, emphasizing the scale of the emergency facing the region.

The provincial government declared a state of emergency across several districts, including Buner, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Torghar, Bajaur, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, and Battagram, effective until 31 August. Officials warned that the region would continue to face heavy rainfall and the risk of further landslides in the coming days, as monsoon patterns remained unusually intense. Since 26 June, monsoon rains have claimed at least 657 lives across Pakistan, highlighting the growing impact of climate-driven weather extremes on the country.

Among the most tragic stories emerging from the floods is that of a family in Qadar Nagar village, where at least 24 people perished after floodwaters swept through their home on the eve of a wedding. Survivors described being caught unprepared as water levels rose rapidly, leaving many trapped and unable to escape. The head of the family, Umar Khan, recounted that he survived because he was away from home at the time, while several relatives remain unaccounted for.

Many residents have criticized authorities for failing to provide timely warnings before the floodwaters arrived. In remote areas like Buner, mosque loudspeakers traditionally serve as an early alert system, but no announcements were made in time. Officials from the National Disaster Management Authority explained that although an early warning system exists, the intensity and suddenness of the downpour in Buner left little opportunity for residents to be alerted. Lt. Gen. Inam Haider, NDMA chair, highlighted that shifting weather patterns caused by climate change have made sudden, extreme rainfall events more frequent and unpredictable.

Meteorological authorities noted that this monsoon season has brought 50 percent more rainfall compared to the same period last year, a surge that has triggered both rural and urban flooding. Idrees Mahsud, a disaster management official, detailed that Pakistan’s early warning system uses satellite imagery and meteorological data to send alerts to local authorities, who then disseminate warnings through media and community leaders. However, in many areas, this system has proven insufficient to prevent loss of life.

Stories of destruction and displacement are widespread. In Sarwarabad, local businessman Saqib Hassan told reporters that a last-minute announcement from a nearby mosque was the only warning residents received before rising waters engulfed their homes. “We are homeless now. Our houses have been destroyed. All the government has given us is food rations and seven tents, where we’ve been living for the past two weeks,” he said, reflecting the acute human suffering following the disaster.

The international community has also expressed concern. UN Secretary-General António Guterres conveyed his “deep sorrow at the lives tragically lost due to the recent flash floods in India and Pakistan” and affirmed that UN Country Teams are ready to support the Pakistani government with relief efforts. Pakistan remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters, with the 2022 monsoon season alone claiming nearly 1,700 lives and destroying millions of homes.

Experts have linked the intensifying monsoon patterns and extreme rainfall events to global climate change. A study by the World Weather Attribution group found that rainfall between 24 June and 23 July this year was 10–15 percent heavier due to climate change. Meteorologists have warned that while Pakistan contributes less than 1 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, its population is increasingly bearing the brunt of climate-induced disasters, including heatwaves, glacial floods, cloudbursts, and monsoon-related deluges.

As emergency crews continue their search for missing persons and attempt to clear debris from collapsed homes, the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face a long and challenging recovery, while calls intensify for better preparedness and more robust early warning systems to prevent such tragedies in the future. The floods have not only claimed lives but have also underscored Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate extremes and the urgent need for coordinated disaster management and humanitarian response.