BUNER, Pakistan (AP) — Flooding in the northwest district of Buner has resulted in at least 220 fatalities, according to officials on Saturday. Rescuers retrieved an additional 63 bodies overnight from homes devastated by flash floods and landslides, with weather forecasts indicating more rain in the days to come.
An eyewitness who survived the floods in Buner described terrifying scenes of floodwaters cascading down mountainsides, carrying hundreds of boulders and “tons of rocks.” The area has seen extensive destruction, particularly after torrential rains and cloudbursts led to massive flooding throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday. Mohammad Suhail, a spokesman for emergency services, reported that rescue workers are actively searching for survivors amid the wreckage.
The most severely affected villages, Pir Baba and Malik Pura, have seen the majority of the casualties. Kashif Qayyum, a deputy commissioner in Buner, indicated that efforts to recover victims from these areas are ongoing. Local police officer Imtiaz Khan, who narrowly escaped the disaster, recounted the rapid destruction as floodwaters, mixed with massive boulders, obliterated homes in mere minutes—a striking realization that the flood was more catastrophic than initially perceived.
“A stream near Pir Baba village swelled without warning. It was a flash flood like we’ve never experienced; when the rocks came crashing down, 60 to 70 homes were swept away in moments,” Khan recounted, adding that many victims were found in a tragic state. He also mentioned that their police station was destroyed, emphasizing the severity of the floods.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued warnings predicting that monsoon activity is set to intensify, particularly starting Sunday, affecting northern and northwestern regions. Rescuers reported severe destruction in Pir Baba, with wrecked homes and large boulders littering the streets as floodwaters began to recede. One resident, Sultan Syed, 45, noted that the sight of boulders flowing with the floodwater was unprecedented for him.
Doctor Mohammad Tariq stated that many victims died before reaching medical facilities, highlighting that a significant number of the deceased were women and children, as many men were away in the hills collecting firewood when the disaster struck.
Pakistani leaders, including the Prime Minister and President, expressed their condolences to the bereaved families and extended prayers for those injured. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, noted that recovery efforts were being initiated to repair damaged infrastructure across the affected areas.
This year, Pakistan has experienced higher-than-normal monsoon rainfall, attributed by experts to climate change, leading to devastating floods and mudslides that have claimed approximately 541 lives since June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.
Mourners participated in mass funerals on Saturday as authorities distributed tents and provisions to those displaced in Buner. Local cleric Mufti Fazal presided over multiple funeral services, reflecting on the transition from a lively community to one gripped by grief. Schoolteacher Suleman Khan tragically reported the loss of 25 family members, adding that he and his brother survived only because they were away when the floods hit their village, Qadar Nagar.
In Pir Baba, mourners displayed the bodies of their loved ones on wooden bedframes before burial. Meanwhile, hospital staff placed ice blocks next to deceased individuals while providing support to the injured. The provincial disaster management authority reported that at least 351 people have died due to rain-related incidents this week across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan.
In neighboring India-controlled Kashmir, rescuers searched for dozens of missing people in the remote village of Chositi after flash floods struck, leading to 60 fatalities and around 150 injuries, with approximately 50 individuals in critical condition. The floods coincided with an annual Hindu pilgrimage, prompting authorities to rescue over 300 individuals trapped in the affected area, as about 4,000 pilgrims were evacuated to safety.
Experts indicate that such cloudbursts are becoming increasingly frequent in Pakistan's northern territories and India's Himalayan regions, linking these events to climate change. Pakistani officials noted that since Thursday, over 3,500 tourists trapped in flood-affected areas across the nation have been evacuated, despite many travelers ignoring government warnings to avoid vulnerable regions. This devastation follows Pakistan's most destructive monsoon season in 2022, which resulted in over 1,700 deaths and an estimated $40 billion in damages.
