Peshawar, Pakistan

Heavy monsoon rains have unleashed a torrent of devastation across northern Pakistan, triggering landslides and flash floods that have claimed over 320 lives since the summer monsoon began. In the last 24 hours alone, at least 194 fatalities were reported, primarily in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 180 people died. A spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) stated that over 110 deaths in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were due to cloudbursts, flash floods, and roof collapses, with 60 more injured.

Buner, Bajaur, Mansehra, and Battagram have been declared disaster-hit districts. Further casualties include 16 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and five in Gilgit-Baltistan. The National Disaster Management Authority noted that most deaths were caused by collapsing houses, flash floods, and electrocutions. Rescue operations, including the use of heavy machinery, are underway in areas like Bajaur, a tribal district bordering Afghanistan.

Pakistan is globally recognised as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, enduring extreme weather events with growing frequency. The meteorological department has issued warnings for the northwest. This year's torrential rains are deemed "unusual" by authorities; Punjab, for instance, recorded 73% more rainfall in July than the previous year. The monsoon season, while crucial for agriculture, also brings significant destruction.