Pakistan Monsoon Floods: Death Toll Soars in Buner Amid Rescue Efforts, Climate Change Link Cited
Pakistan Monsoon Floods: Death Toll Soars in Buner Amid Rescue Efforts, Climate Change Link Cited
BUNER, Pakistan – The death toll from devastating monsoon floods in northwest Pakistan’s Buner district has surged to at least 220, with rescuers working tirelessly overnight to recover 63 more bodies from homes obliterated by flash floods and landslides. This grim count contributes to the national figure of 541 rain-related fatalities across Pakistan since June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.
The region, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has been battered by torrential rains and cloudbursts since Friday, causing widespread devastation. Emergency services spokesman Mohammad Suhail confirmed that hundreds of rescue workers are still desperately searching for survivors in Buner, where dozens of homes were swept away in an instant.
Eyewitnesses describe scenes of unimaginable horror. Imtiaz Khan, a local police officer who narrowly escaped, recounted how a stream near Pir Baba village swelled without warning, unleashing not just water but “tons of rocks” that flattened 60 to 70 houses within moments. “Our police station was washed away too, and if we hadn’t climbed to higher ground, we would not have survived,” Khan stated.
Sultan Syed, 45, who suffered a broken arm, described the deluge as a “flood of boulders,” an unprecedented event in his lifetime. Mohammad Khan, 53, lamented that the floods struck with such speed that many residents had no time to flee. Dr. Mohammad Tariq from Buner hospital confirmed that most victims, including many children and men, died before reaching medical aid.
The tragedy has left communities shattered. Schoolteacher Suleman Khan lost 25 members of his extended family in Qadar Nagar village, surviving only because he and his brother were away when the floods hit. Mourners attended mass funerals on Saturday, as authorities rushed tents and food supplies to the displaced.
This year’s higher-than-normal monsoon rainfall, which experts increasingly link to climate change, has triggered similar disasters across the region. In Indian-controlled Kashmir, rescuers are also searching for dozens missing after flash floods in Kishtwar district, which killed over 60 people and injured 150 more just two days prior. Pakistani officials have evacuated over 3,500 tourists trapped in flood-hit areas, urging travelers to heed warnings about vulnerable regions.
The current crisis evokes grim memories of Pakistan’s worst-ever monsoon season in 2022, which claimed over 1,700 lives and caused an estimated $40 billion in damages, underscoring the escalating threat posed by extreme weather events.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.