At least 344 people perished in northern Pakistan’s floods and landslides, with over 150 missing. District Buner alone registered 208 deaths.
Floods in Northern Pakistan
The majority of fatalities from the sudden floods that plagued Pakistan this week were in the Chajber region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Buner district, rescue teams continue to search for survivors, and ten houses were reported to have been buried by the land. The villages of Pir Baba and Malik Pura suffered the worst damage. In Qadar Nagar, 24 individuals from a single family died the day before a wedding ceremony. One witness, who escaped the flood in Buner, recounted seeing water carrying hundreds of boulders and “tonnes of stones” falling onto the ground.
Authorities Defend Themselves Against Accusations
The Associated Press reports that residents of Buner district blame authorities for failing to order evacuations and warn them of the impending danger. Officials stated that, despite an early-warning system, the sudden downpour in Buner caused a flood before residents were alerted. Since the start of the monsoon season, Pakistan has already received about 50% more rainfall than in the same period last year.
Climate Change Impact in Pakistan
South Asia’s monsoon season accounts for roughly three‑quarters of the annual rainfall, typically beginning in June and ending by late September. During this time, sudden floods and landslides frequently occur. Experts note that this year’s season started earlier than usual and is likely to end later. Pakistan is one of the world’s most climate‑vulnerable countries, increasingly battling extreme weather events. In 2022, monsoon floods washed over a third of the country and killed approximately 1,700 people.
