Northern Pakistan has been left devastated after relentless monsoon rains unleashed flash floods that swept away homes, roads, and entire villages. In just 48 hours, at least 344 people have been killed, with survivors describing the scenes as “doomsday” while rescuers struggle to reach cut-off areas.
Key developments
Death toll surges
- Authorities said 344 people were killed in just 48 hours, with 328 deaths reported in mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone.
- More than 120 people have been injured.
- The Provincial Disaster Management Authority warned the toll is likely to rise as dozens remain missing.
Buner district worst affected
- Buner district has emerged as the epicenter of the disaster, recording at least 184 deaths.
- Other badly hit districts include Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Bajaur, and Battagram, which the provincial government has now declared disaster zones.
Rescue efforts under strain
- About 2,000 rescue workers are deployed across nine districts, but operations are severely hampered by washed-out roads, heavy rainfall, and landslides.
- “Due to road closures in most areas, rescue workers are travelling on foot to conduct operations in remote regions,” said Bilal Ahmed Faizi, spokesperson for the provincial rescue agency.
Scenes of devastation
- Survivors described terrifying experiences. “The ground was trembling due to the force of the water, and it felt like death was staring me in the face,” said Azizullah, a resident of Buner.
- Local teacher Saifullah Khan, who joined efforts to retrieve bodies, said, “We still have no clear idea who in this small village is alive and who is dead. I help retrieve the bodies of the children I taught.”
- Mass funerals have been held across districts, with mourners grieving in front of rows of bodies covered by blankets.
Helicopter crash kills rescuers
- Tragedy struck during relief efforts when a government helicopter crashed due to bad weather, killing five people, including two pilots.
Widespread destruction
- In Swat, roads were submerged in muddy water, electricity poles were grounded, and vehicles lay half-buried in mud. Entire villages remain cut off, with an AFP photographer describing scenes of “entire neighborhoods in ruins.”
More rains ahead
- Pakistan’s meteorological department has issued fresh alerts, warning that heavy rains will continue and intensify over the next 15 days.
- Officials fear the situation could worsen, leaving more communities vulnerable.
Climate crisis backdrop
- This year’s monsoon season began earlier and is expected to last longer.
- Pakistan, among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, has been increasingly battered by extreme weather.
- In 2022, catastrophic floods submerged a third of the country and killed nearly 1,700 people.