BUNER, Pakistan — Torrential monsoon rains and flash floods have killed at least 220 people in northwest Pakistan’s Buner district, with rescuers pulling 63 more bodies from flattened homes overnight. The disaster, fueled by above-average rainfall linked to climate change, has left entire villages devastated, sweeping away dozens of homes in minutes under a torrent of water and boulders.
Emergency crews are still searching for survivors in Buner’s worst-hit villages, Pir Baba and Malik Pura, where many victims — including children — died before reaching hospitals. Local officials report that police stations, homes, and infrastructure were destroyed, while mass funerals took place Saturday amid widespread grief.
Since June 26, heavy rains have killed 541 people across Pakistan, with 351 deaths recorded this week alone in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. Authorities have evacuated over 3,500 tourists from flood-hit areas, but many ignored warnings to avoid vulnerable northern regions.
Across the border in Indian-controlled Kashmir, flash floods have killed at least 60 people and injured 150 during a Hindu pilgrimage, prompting large-scale rescues. Officials warn that such deadly cloudbursts are becoming more frequent due to climate change.