Pakistan Floods 2025: At Least 337 Dead as Government Faces Criticism Over Emergency Response
Buner, Pakistan – August 17, 2025
Torrential rains and sudden cloudbursts have unleashed devastating flash floods in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 337 people and leaving dozens missing, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The deadliest impact was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mountainous districts, where villages were swept away by powerful torrents. Rescue operations are still underway in Chositi village of Kishtwar district, where more than 60 people lost their lives and at least 150 others were injured, nearly 50 of them in critical condition.
Anger Over Lack of Warnings
In Buner district, grieving residents accused officials of failing to issue timely evacuation alerts. Survivors said no warnings were broadcast from mosques, a traditional way of alerting remote communities.
Mohammad Iqbal, a schoolteacher from Pir Baba village, told reporters that the absence of an early warning system forced families to run for safety at the last moment.
“People escaped with nothing,” Iqbal said. “If warnings had come earlier, lives and property could have been saved.”
Authorities, however, defended their efforts, stating that while an early warning system exists, the intensity of the cloudburst in Buner was so sudden that residents could not be alerted in time.
Ongoing Rescue Efforts
Spokesman Mohammad Suhail from the emergency service confirmed that at least 54 bodies were recovered after hours-long rescue operations in Buner. Search teams are still looking for villagers swept away by giant boulders and raging floodwaters that flattened homes.
Meanwhile, neighboring Indian-administered Kashmir also reported destruction. Flash floods in Kathua district killed at least seven people and injured five others overnight.
Government’s Response and Climate Change Factor
At a press briefing in Islamabad, NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said Pakistan is witnessing unpredictable weather shifts caused by climate change.
“Since late June, Pakistan has received 50% more rainfall compared to last year’s monsoon season,” Malik said, warning of further heavy rains and landslides in the coming days.
Officials from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also noted that even advanced forecasting systems cannot accurately predict the exact time and location of cloudbursts, making such disasters harder to manage.
Disaster management expert Idrees Mahsud added that satellite monitoring and meteorological data are used to issue alerts, but rising urbanization means that monsoon rains now trigger both river flooding and urban flash floods.
Pakistan Among World’s Most Climate-Vulnerable Nations
Pakistan experiences annual flash floods and landslides during the June–September monsoon season, particularly in its rugged northwest. Experts warn that climate change is increasing both the frequency and severity of these extreme weather events.
Although Pakistan contributes less than 1% to global carbon emissions, it remains highly vulnerable to the consequences—facing heatwaves, glacial melt, urban flooding, and deadly cloudbursts that devastate entire communities within hours.