Mon Aug 18 12:57:06 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Devastating monsoon rains have triggered severe flooding in northwestern Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A cloudburst in the Swabi district destroyed villages and killed at least 20 people, adding to the overall death toll of over 300 in recent days. Rescuers are searching for approximately 150 missing people, but their efforts are hampered by the ongoing rains. The disaster has left many without shelter, food, or clean water, and the government is struggling to provide aid and assess the extensive damage. Experts attribute the intensity of this year’s monsoon season to climate change, highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to its effects.

**News Article:**

**Monsoon Floods Ravage Northwest Pakistan, Dozens Dead, Hundreds Missing**

*Islamabad, Pakistan* – At least 20 people have been confirmed dead in northwestern Pakistan after a cloudburst triggered catastrophic flooding in the Swabi district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials announced Monday. The disaster compounds an already dire situation, with the region grappling with an unusually intense monsoon season that has claimed over 300 lives in recent days.

“A cloudburst in the Gadoon area of Swabi completely destroyed several houses, killing more than 20 people,” a local official reported to AFP. Witnesses described entire villages being swept away by the deluge.

Rescuers are struggling to reach those stranded, with access hampered by damaged infrastructure and continuing heavy rains. Approximately 150 people remain missing across the province, and efforts to locate them have been severely disrupted.

“Dozens of bodies are still buried under the mud and rocks, which can only be recovered with heavy machinery,” said Nisar Ahmad, a volunteer in the Buner district. “However the makeshift tracks built to access the area have once again been destroyed by the new rains.”

The disaster has left survivors without shelter, food, and clean water, raising concerns about the potential for disease outbreaks. The loss of livestock has further exacerbated the situation, with rotting carcasses polluting the environment.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened an emergency meeting to address the crisis, while preliminary government estimates put the cost of flood damage to government and private property at around $445,000.

Experts attribute the extreme weather to climate change, highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to its impacts. The National Disaster Agency reports that this year’s monsoon is 50-60% more intense than last year, leading to devastating consequences.

Provincial Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has urged residents to relocate from flood-prone areas, promising government assistance in rebuilding homes in safer locations.

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