Death toll in northern Pakistan floods rises to 400 amid widespread devastation

The death toll from flash floods in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has climbed to 400 since Aug. 15, officials said Wednesday, as authorities struggle to deliver aid to hard-hit districts declared disaster zones.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), among the victims were five provincial government officials who died in a helicopter crash during relief operations.

PDMA spokesperson Anwar Shahzad said Buner district was the worst affected, with 228 deaths after five more bodies were recovered. He added that 36 fatalities were reported in Shangla, 24 in Mansehra, 41 in Swat, 21 in Bajaur, 24 in Swabi, 15 in Battagram, five in Lower Dir, two in Nowshera and one in Abbottabad.

Shahzad said 182 people were injured, while 1,398 houses, more than 120 schools, shops and police stations were damaged. At least 4,305 cattle also perished in the floods.

Widespread devastation

The floods swept through the region in the early hours of Friday, destroying homes and triggering widespread devastation. Officials said many of the victims were women and children, with most of the destruction occurring within just 36 hours of the deluge.

The five provincial officials killed in Bajaur were traveling in a helicopter carrying relief supplies when it crashed due to bad weather.

Authorities have declared several districts disaster zones, including Buner, Bajaur, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra and Battagram. Damaged infrastructure has slowed relief operations.

Over 4,000 affected

Officials said more than 4,000 people have been affected by the disaster, with 3,567 rescued so far. Nearly 5,000 personnel supported by 90 vehicles, including ambulances and excavators, are engaged in rescue and relief efforts. Authorities reported that 68 houses were either damaged or destroyed.

Large parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Swat and Malakand have also been declared disaster-hit. Floods and landslides have blocked major roads, delaying aid deliveries. Authorities said dozens of people remain missing and warned the toll may rise further.

‘Unusual monsoon’

The disaster comes amid what officials describe as an “unusual” monsoon. Pakistan has recorded more than 700 flood-related deaths nationwide this summer, with over 905 people injured.

On Tuesday, heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan’s largest city - Karachi - left at least nine people dead.

In July, Punjab province — home to nearly half of Pakistan’s 255 million people — saw 73% more rainfall than last year and more fatalities than in the entire previous monsoon season.

Monsoon rains bring South Asia about three-quarters of its annual rainfall, vital for agriculture and food security, but they also unleash devastation between June and September.

Pakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. In 2022, catastrophic monsoon floods submerged a third of the country and killed about 1,700 people, underscoring the growing challenge of extreme weather.