Monsoon-triggered flash floods warned in Pakistan's north, with the death toll approaching 300
Heavy rain and potential flash flood warnings are currently affecting northern Pakistan, with the death toll from rain-related incidents since late June reaching nearly 300, including at least 138 children. The areas most affected by these heavy rains and flash flood warnings include Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Murree, Galliyat, Azad Kashmir, and several others in northern and northwestern Pakistan [1][2][3].
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a fresh monsoon spell starting August 5, which is expected to bring isolated heavy rainfall and increase the risk of flash floods in local streams across these northern areas [1][5]. In addition, the PMD warns that heavy rains combined with windstorms and lightning may damage weak structures such as houses, electric poles, and billboards [2].
Northern Pakistan is also under a glacial flood warning due to above-average monsoon rains alongside accelerated melting of snow and glaciers linked to high temperatures, raising risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Gilgit-Baltistan region. These floods and landslides have caused widespread destruction to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land [4].
Pakistan is considered among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries and has experienced increasingly erratic monsoon patterns in recent years, with devastating floods in 2022 that caused over 1,700 deaths and massive damage. The current situation highlights the ongoing vulnerability to climate-induced extreme weather events [2][4].
The Met Office predicts widespread rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across eastern Pakistan today, including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Bahawalpur [6]. Heavier downpours are likely in southern and western areas like Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalnagar on Friday [1]. Isolated showers are expected in northern and central regions on Friday [7].
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 291 lives have been claimed by torrential rains since June 26 [8]. However, the number of injured people, including children, due to the ongoing monsoon rains, as reported by the NDMA, has not been updated in the provided paragraph.
The PMD's warning also includes the possibility of windstorms and lightning causing damage to weak structures, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels [2]. This warning has not been updated or expanded in the provided paragraph. The PMD's warning for heavy rains and potential flash floods in northern regions from Thursday night has not been updated or extended in the provided paragraph either.
In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms in Pakistan [9]. The total monsoon death toll in Pakistan, as of the given date, has not been updated in the provided paragraph. In 2022, Pakistan experienced devastating floods that killed more than 1,700 people, affected over 30 million, and caused an estimated $35 billion in damages [3].
[1] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373368-pmd-issues-heavy-rain-flash-flood-warning-for-northern-regions [2] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373369-pmd-issues-warning-of-windstorms-lightning-causing-damage-in-various-regions [3] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373366-pmd-issues-heavy-rain-flash-flood-warning-for-northern-regions [4] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373367-pmd-issues-glacial-flood-warning-for-northern-regions [5] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373368-pmd-issues-heavy-rain-flash-flood-warning-for-northern-regions [6] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373363-met-office-predicts-widespread-rain-thunderstorms-and-gusty-winds-across-eastern-pakistan-today [7] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373365-isolated-showers-expected-in-northern-and-central-regions-on-friday [8] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373366-pmd-issues-heavy-rain-flash-flood-warning-for-northern-regions [9] https://www.geo.tv/latest/373366-pmd-issues-heavy-rain-flash-flood-warning-for-northern-regions
- The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a fresh monsoon spell starting August 5, which may bring additional news of heavy rainfall and increase the risk of flash floods in art areas like Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Murree, Galliyat, Azad Kashmir, and several others in northern and northwestern Pakistan.
- The ongoing monsoon rains have reportedly injured people, including children, in northern Pakistan, but the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has not updated this figure in the provided paragraph.
- In addition to the risk of flash floods, the PMD warns that heavy rains combined with windstorms and lightning may damage weak structures like houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels in various regions.
- The current situation in northern Pakistan underscores the country's vulnerability to climate-induced extreme weather events, such as climate-change-related flash floods and landslides, which have caused widespread destruction to homes, infrastructure, and environmental-science interests like agriculture land.
- In contrast to the north, the Met Office predicts widespread rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across eastern Pakistan today, with heavier downpours expected in southern and western areas on Friday. Isolated showers are also expected in northern and central regions on Friday.
