Heavy Monsoon Floods Claim Over 190 Lives in Pakistan
At least 194 people have died in the last 24 hours due to monsoon floods and landslides across Pakistan and Pakistan‑administered Kashmir, the BBC reported on Friday, August 15.
Fatalities Concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- 180 deaths were recorded in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the highest toll in the country.
- Thirty homes were destroyed in the region.
- A rescue helicopter crashed during operations, killing the five‑person crew.
Deaths in Other Regions
- Nine people died in Pakistan‑administered Kashmir.
- Five more died in the northern Gilgit‑Baltistan region.
Government forecasters said heavy rainfall is expected until August 21 in the northwest of the country, where several areas were declared disaster zones.
Survivor’s Testimony from Buner
One survivor told AFP that the floods arrived like “doomsday.” He described a loud noise, as if the mountain was sliding, and the entire area shaking, “like it was the end of the world.” He added that the ground was trembling due to the force of the water, and it felt like death was staring him in the face.
Monsoon Rains and Climate Change
- Monsoon rains between June and September bring about three‑quarters of South Asia’s annual rainfall.
- Landslides and flooding are frequent, and more than 300 people have been killed this year.
- Scientists say that climate change has made weather events more extreme and more frequent.
