Northwest Pakistan is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis as flash floods continue to devastate multiple districts. Authorities confirmed that more than 150 people remain missing, while the nationwide death toll from the recent monsoon rains and floods has surged to at least 344 people.
Rescue teams are working tirelessly, but continuous downpours, landslides, and thick mud are making the operation increasingly difficult.
Buner District Suffers Worst Devastation
The Buner district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been hit the hardest, with officials confirming at least 208 deaths and “10 to 12 entire villages” partially buried under mud, rocks, and debris. Many houses were completely swept away by powerful floodwaters, while others were crushed by massive boulders tumbling down the mountains.
Provincial disaster management officials reported that at least 150 residents of Buner are still missing. Many are feared to be trapped under collapsed structures, while others may have been washed away downstream.
The floods have also caused a complete breakdown of communication in the area. Electricity lines, roads, and mobile towers have been destroyed, cutting off Buner from the rest of the province and complicating rescue efforts.
Additional Missing Cases Reported in Shangla
In neighboring Shangla district, dozens more people have been reported missing. Torrential rains triggered flash floods that swept through valleys, destroying homes, fields, and critical infrastructure. Officials fear the numbers could rise as rescue teams gain access to remote villages still unreachable due to blocked roads.
Struggle of Rescuers in Harsh Conditions
Despite treacherous weather, more than 2,000 rescue workers are currently deployed across nine affected districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Teams are using heavy machinery, shovels, and even their bare hands to dig survivors and bodies out of the mud and rubble.
A senior rescue spokesperson described the challenges:
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Heavy rainfall continues, reducing visibility and causing fresh landslides.
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Knee-deep mud makes transporting survivors and supplies extremely slow.
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Blocked access roads hinder the arrival of heavy machinery and relief aid.
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Power outages and lack of communication are delaying coordination of emergency services.
“The operation to rescue people trapped under debris is ongoing,” officials confirmed, adding that conditions remain unstable with more rainfall predicted in the coming days.
Scale of the Humanitarian Crisis
Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, families have been forced from their homes as rivers burst their banks and flash floods tore through villages. Emergency shelters have been set up, but displaced communities are struggling with shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies.
The provincial disaster authority has appealed for additional support, warning that the number of missing and dead is likely to rise as rescuers dig deeper into collapsed villages.
Urgent Need for Relief and Long-Term Solutions
The devastation highlights Pakistan’s increasing vulnerability to climate-related disasters. Experts have long warned that unchecked deforestation, weak infrastructure, and poor watershed management have left mountain districts dangerously exposed to floods and landslides.
With more than 150 still missing, and thousands left homeless, authorities are under pressure to not only step up relief operations but also invest in long-term flood management systems, early warning networks, and stronger disaster preparedness plans.
The floods in northwest Pakistan represent one of the worst natural disasters the region has faced in years. With over 344 dead and 150 missing, rescue workers are racing against time in Buner, Shangla, and surrounding districts.
As torrential rains continue, the true scale of the tragedy is only beginning to emerge, underscoring the urgent need for both immediate relief efforts and long-term climate resilience strategies.
