Rescue teams in northwest Pakistan ramped up relief efforts on Sunday after devastating flash floods killed more than 220 people in a single district, officials confirmed.
The district of Buner, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was hit by intense monsoon rains and sudden cloudbursts on Friday, triggering severe flooding and landslides.
According to emergency services spokesman Mohammad Sohail, over half of the district’s damaged roads have now been reopened, enabling emergency crews and equipment to reach cut-off communities.
Efforts are ongoing to clear debris left by the flooding. On Sunday, heavy machinery was being used to remove rubble from destroyed homes, as residents continued to report missing family members.
One of the most tragic incidents occurred in Qadar Nagar village, where floodwaters swept away a house on the night before a wedding, killing 24 members of a single family. Umar Khan, the family’s patriarch, survived only because he was away at the time. Four relatives remain unaccounted for.
Provincial Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur visited Buner on Saturday and announced compensation of 2 million rupees (approximately $7,200) for the families of those killed. He also confirmed the provision of tents, food, and clean water to prevent disease outbreaks.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is overseeing the relief efforts and has instructed officials to accelerate aid delivery, evacuate stranded people, and intensify the search for the missing, according to a government statement.
The national disaster authority has warned of further flooding and landslides between August 17 and 19 and has urged local governments to remain vigilant. Since June 26, unusually heavy monsoon rains have killed over 600 people across Pakistan.
The country remains highly susceptible to climate-related disasters. In 2022, record monsoon rains resulted in nearly 1,700 deaths and widespread destruction.
Monsoon season, which spans from June to September, regularly brings flash floods and landslides, especially in Pakistan’s mountainous northwest, where many villages are located on steep terrain and near rivers.
Experts say climate change is contributing to the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather in South Asia.
Meanwhile, in Indian-administered Kashmir, torrential rains caused flash floods in two villages in Kathua district, killing at least seven people and injuring five. Rescue operations are ongoing.
In Kishtwar district, search efforts continue in the remote village of Chositi, where flash floods struck three days ago. At least 60 people died, around 150 were injured — 50 critically — and many remain missing.
The disaster occurred during an annual Hindu pilgrimage. Authorities rescued over 300 people and safely evacuated around 4,000 pilgrims.