Islamabad, August 16, 2025 – Northern Pakistan is reeling from the devastation of powerful flash floods triggered by the seventh spell of the monsoon season.
In just 48 hours, at least 344 people have lost their lives, while more than 120 have been injured as heavy rains, landslides, and surging waters washed away homes, roads, and bridges. Authorities warn that the death toll could rise further as rescue operations continue in remote and inaccessible areas.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that the hardest-hit districts include Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and Battagram, all of which have been declared disaster zones. Residents described scenes of terror, with one survivor in Buner saying it felt like “doomsday” as the ground shook from the force of the rushing water. In Swat’s Mingora city, vehicles, debris, and buildings were swept away in minutes.
More than 2,000 rescue workers, including teams from Rescue 1122 and the Edhi Foundation, are engaged in retrieval and relief efforts despite washed-out roads and continuing rainfall. Edhi volunteers reported recovering 44 bodies in Buner alone, including 15 children, while shifting dozens of survivors to safe areas. Rescue officials noted that many families are refusing to leave as relatives remain trapped beneath rubble.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar expressed sorrow over the tragedy, assuring that Pakistan’s government is mobilizing “all available resources” for relief. He confirmed that Rs500 million has been released for emergency funds, with allocations for Buner, Bajaur, Battagram, Mansehra, and Swat. “Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones. The federal and provincial agencies, the armed forces, and local authorities are working tirelessly,” Dar said.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued fresh warnings of more heavy rain until August 21, keeping risks of further flash floods high. Officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have urged the public to avoid travel to northern tourist areas, imposing restrictions to prevent additional tragedies.
The destruction has been immense: in Gilgit-Baltistan, bridges in Skardu and Shigar were swept away, leaving communities isolated. In Azad Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, landslides buried villages and cut off roads. In Swat, dozens of homes and businesses were reduced to rubble, while in Mansehra, floodwaters destroyed key transport routes. Army contingents have been deployed to install temporary bridges and deliver rations, tents, and medical supplies. The Chief of Army Staff has ordered one-day military rations—amounting to 600 tonnes—be distributed to victims.
International messages of solidarity have poured in. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Turkiye’s foreign ministry extended condolences, expressing grief over the loss of life and reaffirming support for Pakistan.
The monsoon, which brings nearly 75 percent of South Asia’s annual rainfall, is critical for agriculture but deadly when intensified. Officials warn that this year’s monsoon began earlier, is lasting longer, and is expected to grow even more severe in the coming weeks.
For now, families in northern Pakistan continue to grieve, waiting for news of missing loved ones as relief workers battle the unforgiving waters of the ongoing floods.