Despair mounts as landslides and floods swallow Pakistan villages

North Pakistan Suffers Devastating Monsoon Floods

Massive Casualties and Ongoing Rescue Efforts

At least 344 people have lost their lives in the mountainous regions of Pakistan after monsoon rains triggered flash floods and landslides. The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported the highest toll, with the Buner district recording at least 208 fatalities and partial burial of “10 to 12 villages.”

Rescue Operations on the Ground

• Around 2,000 rescue workers are excavating bodies from debris across nine districts.
• Flawed flood‑water impeded the movement of emergency vehicles; villagers cut fallen trees to clear access routes.
• Local shopkeeper Noor Muhammad described extensive loss of property and money washed away by mud.

Disaster‑Hit Areas Declared by the Provincial Government

The government has labeled the mountainous districts of Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, and Battagram as disaster‑affected zones.

Community Reactions and Lasting Trauma

• Residents gathered for mass funerals; bodies wrapped in blood‑stained white shawls were laid out on village grounds.
• Schoolteacher Saifullah Khan noted profound trauma and ongoing searches through rubble.
• Villager Syed Wahab Bacha reported loss of the lower bazaar shops and a washed‑away road that served as the only path.

Weather Forecast and Warnings

Pakistan’s meteorological department warned of “torrential rains” likely to intensify from Sunday, urging people to avoid exposure to vulnerable areas. The monsoon season brings almost three‑quarters of the region’s annual rainfall, essential for agriculture but also responsible for frequent landslides.

Historical Context and Climate Vulnerability

• The 2022 monsoon floods submerged a third of the country, claiming around 1,700 lives.
• Pakistan is among the world’s most climate‑change‑vulnerable nations, confronting increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
• Authorities described this year’s monsoon as “unusual,” with at least 650 people killed and 910 injured since summer began.